Fresh water reduces salinity and water density AMOC13 Jun 2026 17:23
Fresh water reduces salinity and water density
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However, scientists are concerned that fresh water from Greenland's melting glaciers is disrupting this process by diluting the water and making it less dense. Studies have shown that AMOC has already slowed by about 15 per cent since the mid–20th century due to climate change, and could be driven into total collapse in the future. Since a slowing AMOC would result in less warm water arriving in the North Atlantic, scientists had suggested that it could be part of the explanation for the cold blob. However, our direct observations of AMOC only date back around 20 years, which makes drawing a strong connection challenging. Likewise, other researchers have proposed a competing theory, arguing that the cold blob is actually being caused by changing wind conditions...
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