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The cold patch in the North Atlantic is getting even colder because of a weakening Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (Getty Stock Image)
“People have been asking why this cold spot exists,” said University of California Riverside climate scientist Wei Liu, who led the study with doctoral student Kai-Yuan Li.
“We found the most likely answer is a weakening AMOC.”
“Our results show that only the models with a weakening AMOC get it right,” Liu added. “That means many of the recent models are too sensitive to aerosol changes, and less accurate for this region.”
What a ‘cold blob’ means for Europe
The effects would not be limited to Europe. A weaker AMOC could also cause sea levels to rise more quickly along the east coast of North America.
At the same time, rainfall could decrease in parts of Africa and Asia, threatening agriculture, water supplies and public health.