The mysterious "cold blob" has puzzled scientists for years, but a new study suggests it could be a dangerous sign of a larger climate crisis unfolding beneath the surface of the Atlantic Ocean. Located near Greenland and Iceland, this region—known as the "cold blob" or "warming hole"—has been cooling steadily since the early 20th century, defying the overall trend of rising ocean temperatures. This anomaly has sparked intense scientific debate, with researchers initially proposing multiple theories about its cause. However, recent findings indicate that the phenomenon might be linked to the weakening of a critical oceanic current system known as the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC).
The AMOC functions much like a conveyor belt, transporting warm water from the tropics toward the North Atlantic, where it cools, sinks, and returns southward. This process plays a vital role in regulating global weather patterns and maintaining stable sea levels. Recent studies have shown that the AMOC has been slowing down due to climate change, primarily driven by human activities such as greenhouse gas emissions. The melting of polar ice sheets adds more freshwater into the ocean, disrupting the delicate balance of salinity and temperature that powers the AMOC. As a result, the flow of this massive circulation system has weakened significantly over the past few decades.
The cold blob, located just north of the equator, has become one of the most visible signs of this slowdown. Unlike typical surface-level cooling caused by atmospheric conditions, the cold blob extends deep into the ocean, far beyond areas influenced by wind and cloud cover. This discovery has led scientists to conclude that the AMOC's weakening is likely responsible for the unusual cooling pattern. Researchers at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, including Professor Stefan Rahmstorf, argue that the data strongly supports this connection. They note that the observed changes in ocean temperature align with models predicting a decline in AMOC strength, suggesting that the system is approaching a tipping point.
If the AMOC were to collapse entirely, the consequences would be catastrophic. A complete shutdown of this circulation would disrupt global weather systems, leading to extreme cold snaps in parts of Europe, severe droughts in Africa, and accelerated sea level rise along the eastern coast of the United States. These effects could trigger a cascade of environmental and social disruptions, potentially worsening existing climate challenges. Some scientists warn that the AMOC may already be close to irreversible collapse, with the potential for rapid and unpredictable changes in the coming decades.
While the latest research provides compelling evidence linking the cold blob to AMOC weakening, some experts caution against overinterpreting the findings. René van Westen, a researcher at Utrecht University, acknowledges that earlier explanations focused solely on atmospheric factors. However, he agrees that the new study’s results, derived from multiple independent datasets, offer stronger support for the AMOC hypothesis. Similarly, David Thornalley of University College London emphasizes the importance of continued monitoring, noting that while the available data is valuable, it remains limited in scope. He stresses that further research will be necessary to fully understand the implications of these changes.
As the scientific community continues to investigate the cold blob and its broader implications, the urgency of addressing climate change has never been greater. With global temperatures projected to surpass 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels within the next decade, the need for immediate action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions has never been more pressing. While the full extent of the AMOC’s decline remains uncertain, the growing body of evidence suggests that the world is standing at a critical juncture—one that could shape the future of our planet for generations to come.
7 poročil
tportalNeodvisenSredinaDejstva 90Objektivnost 85pred 26 dnevi Alarm na ledenem kontinentu: Antarktika nikad nije bila ovako topla usred zimeV začetku junija so temperature v delih Antarktike presegale 15°C, kar je zlomilo prejšnje zimske rekordne vrednosti. To je povzročilo skrbi med klimatologi. V argentijskih raziskovalnih bazah Esperanza je bila zabeležena temperatura 15,4°C – dva stopnja nad prejšnjim rekordom iz leta 1998. Temperature so bile nad ničlo že tri tedne zapored, kar je zelo neobičajno za to časovno obdobje. Vidni učinki vključujejo izpostavljeno tla namesto snežnega pokriva in toplo ledeno vodo na vrhovih lednikov, ki bi običajno zbrali nov snežni pokriv. Znanstveniki opozarjajo, da so ti topli valovi nekaj, kar ni le kratkoročna vremenska anomalija.
Ocena pristranskosti (Sredina): Članek poudarja opozorilo na temperaturno povečanje in citira znanstvenike, ki izražajo skrbi, kar predlaguje okoljsko usmerjenost, skladno z naprednimi vrednotami. Kljub temu ostaja v večini dejanskih podatkov brez izraženega jezika, ki bi bil v nasprotnem smislu ali izbire virov.
Zakaj te ocene (Dejstva 90 · Objektivnost 85): The article accurately reports on record-breaking temperatures in Antarctica during winter, citing research stations and scientists. It maintains an objective tone while discussing the implications of climate change.
N1 HrvatskaNeodvisenSredinaDejstva 85Objektivnost 85pred 24 dnevi Zamrznjena „hladna mrlja“ je zmedla znanstvenike. Nova študija kaže, da je to zlorabni znakStudija je identificirala 'hladno mesto' v severnem Atlantiku, južno od Grönlandije in Islandije, kot znak potencialnih točk preklopa v klimi. Ta območje je pohladnilo skoraj za en stopnjo Celzija od leta 1900, nasprotno kot globalni trend segrevanja. Raziskovalci predlagajo, da je to hlajenje verjetno posledica oslabitev Atlantskega meridionalnega prekrivnega tokovnega sistema (AMOC), pomembnega oceanografskega tokovnega sistema, ki prenaša toploto po vsem svetu. To bi lahko imelo resne posledice za prihodnost planeta.
Ocena pristranskosti (Sredina): Članek predstavlja znanstvena najdba brez izražene ideološke podlage. Porablja se za raziskave, ki predlagajo potencialno točko preklopa v klimi, vendar ne sprejema stališča o posledicah ali politizira vprašanje. Vsebina ostaja usmerjena v znanstveni proces in najdbe.
Zakaj te ocene (Dejstva 85 · Objektivnost 85): Factual and objective, directly referencing the IGCC report and presenting data on global warming with clear, measured language.
Carbon BriefNeodvisenSredinaDejstva 85Objektivnost 80pred 28 dnevi Posnetek gostov: Kako rekordno visok energetski neravnovesje povzroča globalno segrevanjeV članku se razpravlja o naraščajoči "energetski neravnovesji" na Zemlji, kjer se zaradi emisij toplogrednih plinov, ki jih povzroča človek, več sončne energije absorbira kot se odda nazaj v vesolje. Ta neravnovesje, merjeno kot ključni kazalnik podnebnih sprememb, je doseglo rekordno visoko leta 2025, glede na najnovejši "Kazalniki globalnih podnebnih sprememb" (IGCC). Poročilo, objavljeno v reviji Earth System Science Data, poudarja hiter tempo globalnega segrevanja in poudarja pomen nadzornih sistemov za spremljanje teh sprememb.
Ocena pristranskosti (Sredina): V članku so predstavljeni znanstveni podatki in ugotovitve iz poročila IGCC, ne da bi javno podpirali politične perspektive.
Zakaj te ocene (Dejstva 85 · Objektivnost 80): Factual accuracy is strong based on the IGCC report and mainstream climate science. It presents data on energy imbalance and greenhouse gas emissions accurately. Objectivity is good but slightly leans towards emphasizing the urgency of climate action.
The Jakarta PostNeodvisenSredinaDejstva 85Objektivnost 80pred 29 dnevi Svet vidi drugo najbolj vroče maja, ko se Evropa sooča z "novo normalno": EU spremljaV članku piše, da je bila maja druga najbolj vroča na svetu, saj je po mnenju nadzornega organa EU Evropa doživljala novo podnebno normalno stanje.
Ocena pristranskosti (Sredina): V članku so bile navedene dejanske informacije o globalnih temperaturah in klimatskih gibanjih, ne da bi bila očitno ugodna politični perspektivi.
Zakaj te ocene (Dejstva 85 · Objektivnost 80): Accurate in reporting rising temperatures and human impact, aligning with cross-source consensus. Neutral tone with balanced reporting on causes and effects.
Phys.orgNeodvisenSredinaDejstva 85Objektivnost 75pred 28 dnevi Globalno segrevanje je leta 2025 doseglo 1,37 °C, Zemlja pa se z hitrostjo pospešujeV najnovejšem poročilu Indikatorov globalnih podnebnih sprememb (IGCC), objavljenem v Earth System Science Data, je poudarjeno, da je globalno segrevanje zaradi človeških dejavnosti leta 2025 doseglo 1,37 °C. Poročilo kaže, da se Zemlja v hitrejši hitrosti kopiči in predvideva, da bi se prag 1,5 °C lahko preselil v štirih letih.
Ocena pristranskosti (Sredina): V članku so predstavljeni dejanski podatki iz znanstvenega poročila brez očitno predsodkovanega izraza ali selektivnega izvora.
Zakaj te ocene (Dejstva 85 · Objektivnost 75): Accurate in reporting temperature projections and CO2 levels, aligning with cross-source consensus. Slightly more alarmist tone, though still grounded in scientific findings.
ERR News (English)Državni / javniSredinaDejstva 80Objektivnost 70pred 20 dnevi Harri Tiido: Ali bo podnebje prenehalo podpirati človeško obstoj?Harri Tiido razpravlja o zaskrbljenosti znanstvenikov glede podnebnih sprememb in ugotavlja, da se človeštvo morda približuje "točki brez vrnitve", kjer globalno segrevanje postane nepovratno.
Ocena pristranskosti (Sredina): Članek predstavlja znanstveno zaskrbljenost zaradi podnebnih sprememb, ne da bi očitno zagovarjal katero koli določeno politično stališče.
Zakaj te ocene (Dejstva 80 · Objektivnost 70): Reports a concern about a 'point of no return' based on scientific opinion, which is generally supported by climate science. Objectivity is lower due to more alarmist language and less emphasis on uncertainty.
France 24 (Français)Državni / javniSredinaDejstva 75Objektivnost 70pred 23 dnevi Globalno segrevanje: V bližnji prihodnosti doseže prag +1,5 °CSkupina 70 znanstvenikov je objavila poročilo, ki posodablja naše razumevanje podnebnih sprememb. Po njihovih izračunih bo prag globalnega segrevanja 1,5 °C verjetno dosežen okoli leta 2030. Poročilo poudarja nujnost zmanjšanja emisij toplogrednih plinov za ohranitev življenjskega podnebja in ublažajo vse večjo število katastrof, ki se pričakuje, če se trenutni trend nadaljuje v smeri 3 °C povečanja do konca 21. stoletja.
Ocena pristranskosti (Sredina): V članku so predstavljeni znanstveni ugotovitvi, ne da bi javno podprli politični stališče.
Zakaj te ocene (Dejstva 75 · Objektivnost 70): Correctly states the 1.5°C threshold may be reached around 2030 according to scientists. Uses urgent language appropriate for the topic but could provide more nuance about the uncertainty surrounding exact timing and magnitude of climate change impacts.
★
Ohranimo novice poštene.
ObjectiveNews financirajo bralci in je brez oglasov – pristranskost vam pokažemo, ne skrijemo. Podprite neodvisno novinarstvo za 5 €/mesec.
Postani podpornik