A new study analyzed nearly four decades of deep ocean observations to reveal significant cooling and freshening of deep water in the Subtropical North Atlantic.
A new study analyzed nearly four decades of deep ocean observations to reveal significant cooling and freshening of deep water in the Subtropical North Atlantic. The results suggest that warmer, saltier deep waters observed across other parts of the Atlantic may reach the region within the next 10 years, potentially influencing large-scale sea level changes and altering the flow of ocean currents in the region.
These new findings from scientists at the University of Miami’s NOAA Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies (CIMAS), and the Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science are critical to understanding the future behavior of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), a crucial component of global ocean circulation that plays a significant role in regulating climate, weather patterns, and sea levels across the globe.
“Our findings suggest a climatic link between the Subtropical and Subpolar North Atlantic, with the freshening aligning with a multi-decadal freshening event in the subpolar basins from over two decades ago,” said the study’s lead author Leah Chomiak, a researcher at CIMAS. “The results underscore the importance of continued monitoring of the deep ocean, as understanding the variability, pathways, and timescales of water mass movements is essential for predicting future impacts on the AMOC.”
Read More: University of Miami Rosenstiel
