Credit: NASA – GISS
The researchers conclude that “the AMOC states in both the subpolar and subtropical North Atlantic between the 1990s and 2010s are indistinguishably different from each other”. In effect: nothing to see here, put the alarm bells away.
– – –
Ocean vertical structures are changing as a result of global warming, says Phys.org.
Whether these changes are in pace with the ocean circulation is unknown.
Now, an international team of scientists from the South China Sea Institute of Oceanology (SCSIO) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, China, Georgia Institute of Technology, U.S., and GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Germany, gave an answer to the question.
According to their study published in Science Advances on Nov. 27, ocean circulation changes and ocean interior property changes may not occur at the same pace as it was previously suggested.
The researchers found that despite profound decadal ocean interior property changes, the overturning circulation remains stable on decadal timescales since the 1990s.
“The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) primarily consists of a northward-flowing upper limb that is warm and saline and a southward-flowing lower limb that is relatively cold and fresh,” said Dr. FU Yao from SCSIO, leading author of the study. The associated large net heat and freshwater transports are essential for regional and global climate.
“Under global warming, there have been rising concerns that the AMOC is slowing down or will do so in the future,” said Dr. WANG Chunzai, corresponding author of the study.
Hollywood science fiction movie The Day After Tomorrow even depicts catastrophic climate effects following a shutdown of the AMOC which leads to a new ice age.
Continued here.
via Tallbloke’s Talkshop
December 2, 2020 at 04:12AM
Iowa Climate Science Education 