The largest heat transfer system on planet Earth may be on the brink of collapse. The AMOC’s collapse is a debated topic among scientists. Current climate models can be inconsistent and potentially lack observational data. That leaves the mysterious cold blob in the North Atlantic Ocean as a potential warning sign left unchecked.
The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) is a system of ocean currents that moves water, heat, and nutrients around the Atlantic Ocean and the world. The AMOC is a powerful current that moves warm water from the tropics to the North Atlantic and cold water back south. It also carries nutrients that sustain ocean life.
PBS Terra speaks with three paleoclimate experts who look at the Earth’s past climate to uncover the AMOC’s historical behavior and if the mysterious cold blob is a canary in the coal mine.
