Stable Ocean Circulation in a Changing North Atlantic Ocean

Science Advances, November 27

Increasing discharge of freshwater from the melting ice of Greenland and other Arctic glaciers has not substantially changed the ocean currents circulating water between the tropical and polar regions of the North Atlantic Ocean over the past 30 years.  A remarkably stable region of polar currents in the eastern North Atlantic plays a dominant role in determining the strength of these currents, which are part of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) system that pushes warm water northward above, and cold water southward at lower depths. These observations contradict previous models that predicted weakening AMOC currents, and previous observations limited to only one section of the North Atlantic Ocean. Although there have been profound changes within the North Atlantic – such as with oxygen levels and water temperatures – the strength of AMOC currents has remained mostly unchanged on decadal timescales.

https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/6/48/eabc7836

Compiled by Amy Imdieke.