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5d ago

Reanalysis Links North Atlantic ‘Cold Blob’ to Slowing Ocean Conveyor

Scientists say the pattern points to a drop in northward heat transport that could alter regional weather and coastal sea levels.

A southeast Greenland polar bear on glacier, or freshwater, ice is seen in this handout photograph taken in September 2016.
Image
A "cold blob" in the Atlantic could potentially throw global temperatures into flux, causing drought and other effects, a new study says.
A simulation of ocean temperatures from 1993 to 2021, showing a "cold blob" of water south of Greenland that has cooled in that time relative to the rest of the ocean.

Overview

  • A reanalysis published in mid‑June 2026 in Geophysical Research Letters found the North Atlantic patch south of Greenland and Iceland has cooled about 1°C since the 19th century and is tied to a weakening Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation.
  • Researchers report a marked decline in heat escaping to the atmosphere and the largest loss of heat content in the upper 1,000 meters of the region, which matches the AMOC’s pathway and signals reduced northward heat supply.
  • Freshwater from Greenland ice melt is identified as a likely driver because added fresh water lowers surface salinity and reduces dense water formation that powers the AMOC.
  • A slower AMOC could shift storm tracks, bring cooler conditions to Greenland and northern Europe, and raise local sea levels along parts of the U.S. East Coast, but scientists stress the timing and likelihood of a full collapse remain uncertain.
  • Coverage ranges from measured scientific caution to sensational claims, and this study builds on long‑term records and prior model projections that have warned of substantial AMOC weakening through this century.