Thursday March 28, 2024
Earth.com —
The health of our oceans is a barometer for the planet’s overall environmental condition, with ocean currents playing a critical role in regulating Earth’s climate.
A recent study has shed new light on the impact of rising ocean temperatures on one of these vital current systems.
This significant research provides the first documented evidence of a significant slowdown in the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) — a key player in the ocean’s climate-regulating conveyor belt.
Alexey Mishonov and his team dive deep into the decades of data compiled in NOAA’s World Ocean Atlas to trace the AMOC’s performance over time.
Their findings reveal a startling shift: from 1955 to 1994, the AMOC’s flow was stable and consistent.