Cold blob (North Atlantic)

The cold blob visible on NASA's global mean temperatures for 2015, the warmest year on record (since 1880) – Colors indicate temperature anomalies (NASA/NOAA; 20 January 2016).[1]

The cold blob in the North Atlantic describes a cold temperature anomaly of ocean surface waters, affecting the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) which is part of the thermohaline circulation, possibly related to Greenland ice melt from global warming.

General

AMOC is driven by ocean temperature and salinity differences. The major possible mechanism causing the cold ocean surface temperature anomaly is based on the fact that freshwater decreases ocean water salinity, and through this process prevents colder waters sinking. Observed freshwater increase originates probably from Greenland ice melt.[2]

Research

2015 and earlier

Climate scientists Michael Mann of Penn State and Stefan Rahmstorf from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research suggested that the observed cold pattern during years of temperature records is a sign that the Atlantic ocean’s Meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) may be weakening. They published their findings, and concluded that the AMOC circulation shows exceptional slowdown in the last century, and that Greenland melt is a possible contributor.[3] Tom Delworth of NOAA suggested that natural variability, which includes different modes, here namely the North Atlantic Oscillation and the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation through wind driven ocean temperatures are also a factor. A study by Jon Robson etal 2014 from the University of Reading concluded about the anomaly, “...suggest that a substantial change in the AMOC is unfolding now.”[2][4] Another study by Didier Swingedouw concluded that the slowdown of AMOC since the 1970s is unprecedented over the last millennium.[5]

2016

A study published in 2016, by researchers from the University of South Florida, Canada and the Netherlands, used GRACE satellite data to estimate freshwater flux from Greenland. They concluded that freshwater runoff is accelerating, and could eventually cause a disruption of AMOC in the future, which would affect Europe and North America.[6]

Another study published in 2016, found further evidence for a considerable impact from sea level rise for the U.S. East Coast. The study confirms earlier research findings which identified the region as a hotspot for rising seas, with a potential to divert 3–4 times higher than the global average sea level rise rate. The researchers attribute the possible increase to an ocean circulation mechanism called deep water formation, which is reduced due to AMOC slow down, leading to more warmer water pockets below the surface. Additional the study noted, "Our results suggest that higher carbon emission rates also contribute to increased [sea level rise] in this region compared to the global average."[7]

Background

In 2005, British researchers noticed that the net flow of the northern Gulf Stream had decreased by about 30% since 1957. Coincidentally, scientists at Woods Hole had been measuring the freshening of the North Atlantic as Earth becomes warmer. Their findings suggested that precipitation increases in the high northern latitudes, and polar ice melts as a consequence. By flooding the northern seas with lots of extra fresh water, global warming could, in theory, divert the Gulf Stream waters that usually flow northward, past the British Isles and Norway, and cause them to instead circulate toward the equator. If this were to happen, Europe's climate would be seriously impacted.[8][9][10]

Don Chambers from the USF College of Marine Science mentioned, "The major effect of a slowing AMOC is expected to be cooler winters and summers around the North Atlantic, and small regional increases in sea level on the North American coast."[6] James Hansen and Makiko Sato stated, "AMOC slowdown that causes cooling ~1°C and perhaps affects weather patterns is very different from an AMOC shutdown that cools the North Atlantic several degrees Celsius; the latter would have dramatic effects on storms and be irreversible on the century time scale."[11] Downturn of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation, has been tied to extreme regional sea level rise.[12]

Measurements

Since 2004 the RAPID program monitors the ocean circulation.[2]

In popular culture

The film The Day After Tomorrow exaggerates a scenario related to the AMOC shutdown.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Brown, Dwayne; Cabbage, Michael; McCarthy, Leslie; Norton, Karen (20 January 2016). "NASA, NOAA Analyses Reveal Record-Shattering Global Warm Temperatures in 2015". NASA. Retrieved 21 January 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 "Everything you need to know about the surprisingly cold ‘blob’ in the North Atlantic ocean". The Washington Post. 2015.
  3. ↑ Stefan Rahmstorf, Jason E. Box, Georg Feulner, Michael E. Mann, Alexander Robinson, Scott Rutherford & Erik J. Schaffernicht. "Exceptional twentieth-century slowdown in Atlantic Ocean overturning circulation". Nature. doi:10.1038/nclimate2554.
  4. ↑ Jon Robson, Dan Hodson, Ed Hawkins, Rowan Sutton. "Atlantic overturning in decline?". Nature. doi:10.1038/ngeo2050.
  5. ↑ Didier Swingedouw (2015). "Oceanography: Fresh news from the Atlantic". Nature. doi:10.1038/nclimate2626.
  6. 1 2 "Melting Greenland ice sheet may affect global ocean circulation, future climate". Phys.org. 2016.
  7. ↑ "Why the U.S. East Coast could be a major ‘hotspot’ for rising seas". The Washington Post. 2016.
  8. ↑ Garrison, Tom (2009). Oceanography: An Invitation to Marine Science (7th ed.). Cengage Learning. p. 582. ISBN 9780495391937.
  9. ↑ Bryden, H.L., H.R. Longworth and S.A. Cunningham (2005). "Slowing of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation at 25° N". Nature 438 (438): 655–657. doi:10.1038/nature04385. PMID 16319889.
  10. ↑ Curry, R. and C. Mauritzen (2005). "Dilution of the northern North Atlantic in recent decades". Science 308: 1772–1774. doi:10.1126/science.1109477.
  11. ↑ James Hansen and Makiko Sato (2015). "Predictions Implicit in “Ice Melt” Paper and Global Implications".
  12. ↑ Jianjun Yin and Stephen Griffies (25 March 2015). "Extreme sea level rise event linked to AMOC downturn". CLIVAR.

External links

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