In the past few weeks climate scientists have been watching with concern the persistent “blob” of colder than normal water that is located in the North Atlantic Ocean. This area of the ocean is well sampled by buoys, ships and satellites so there is a high degree of confidence that this area is indeed experiencing a real anomaly in temperature. It is also an area that has become less salty than it used to be.
The causes of this “cold blob” are not completely known but it appears to be related to rapid melting of the Greenland ice sheet nearby. It is also reflected in a slowing of the Gulf Stream, which carries warm water from the tropics up to high latitudes in the Atlantic Ocean. This area is a primary area driving the global ocean circulation which carries water around the world through the ocean basins. If the Gulf Stream and ocean circulation continue to slow down, it is likely to have profound impacts on the climate on either side of the Atlantic Ocean. Unfortunately, it is not clear yet what those effects will be. In addition to climate effects, sea level along the Southeast coast is likely to rise if the current slows, which would be devastating for areas along the coast.
You can read some stories about this “cold blob” using the links below:
Washington Post–Why some scientists are worried about a cold blob in the North Atlantic Ocean
EarthSky–Video: Greenland’s ice melt
MSN.com–Cold blob in North Atlantic Ocean may affect weather in Europe, Eastern US
Here is today’s sea surface temperature anomaly map from ClimateReanalyzer.com
