Research shows that the Irminger Sea is the key to the stability of the Atlantic current

A new study highlights the crucial role of the Irminger Sea, located southeast of Greenland, in maintaining the strength of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). The AMOC, a global ocean conveyor belt, is critical for regulating Earth’s climate, especially in the Northern Hemisphere. According to research led by Dr. Qiyun Ma, a postdoctoral researcher at the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research in Germany, disturbances in this region could have far-reaching consequences for the climate.

Dr. Ma emphasized that the freshwater supply to the Irminger Sea directly inhibits the formation of deep water, a key process for maintaining the AMOC. This reduction in deep-water currents, caused by increasing Arctic melt, significantly alters atmospheric circulation and disrupts the broader ocean current system. The study underlines the urgent need for targeted monitoring of the Irminger Sea, as findings suggest its influence on the AMOC is greater than that of neighboring regions, including the Labrador Sea and the Nordic Seas.

Freshwater flow weakens ocean currents

The study simulated scenarios of increased freshwater in four regions of the North Atlantic Ocean and assessed the sensitivity of the AMOC. The Irminger Sea was found to play a unique role in regulating deep-water formation in adjacent seas, including the Labrador Sea. The freshwater supply in this area also exacerbates climate extremes, such as altered precipitation patterns in North America and the Amazon basin.

Wider climate implications

Findings from this study are consistent with previous predictions of Northern Hemisphere cooling and Arctic sea ice expansion due to a weakening AMOC. In addition, a slight warming in the Southern Hemisphere and disruptions of the tropical monsoon systems were observed. Dr. Ma pointed out that the location of the freshwater supply strongly influences these outcomes, making accurate predictions more challenging.

The study, published in Science Advances on November 20, highlights the growing need for climate experts and policymakers to address AMOC vulnerabilities. Improved monitoring of sensitive areas such as the Irminger Sea could help develop adaptive strategies to mitigate future climate disruptions.