Gulf Stream Weakening

October 18, 2023

A recent study has provided compelling evidence that the Gulf Stream, a critical ocean current, is indeed weakening. Over the past four decades, the flow of warm water through the Florida Straits has slowed by 4 percent, raising significant concerns about the global climate. This ocean current plays a crucial role in regulating sea levels and maintaining temperate conditions worldwide.

The Gulf Stream’s Vital Role

The Gulf Stream originates near Florida and carries warm water along the U.S. East Coast and Canada before crossing the Atlantic to Europe.
The heat transported by this stream is essential for controlling sea levels and sustaining moderate temperatures.

Gulf Stream as Part of the Global Conveyor Belt

The Gulf Stream is just one component of the thermohaline circulation, a global conveyor belt of ocean currents.
This system plays a vital role in transporting carbon, heat, nutrients, and oxygen around the world.
It also contributes to regulating hurricane activity and sea levels.

The Gulf Stream’s Cycle

The Gulf Stream begins in the Caribbean and flows into the Atlantic via the Florida Straits.
It carries warmer, saltier, and denser waters northward, where they cool and sink in the North Atlantic.
After releasing heat into the atmosphere, the water moves southward, heats up again, and repeats the cycle.

Maintaining Sea Levels and Temperatures

The Gulf Stream is crucial for sustaining sea levels and temperatures along the U.S. East Coast.
It keeps coastal waters up to 5 feet (1.5 meters) lower than offshore waters due to its circulation.
As Earth’s climate warms, the influx of cold, fresh water from melting ice sheets could disrupt the Gulf Stream, potentially causing it to slow down or even collapse.

Challenges in Proving the Slowdown

Proving the Gulf Stream’s slowdown is challenging due to the complexity and scale of the system.
Researchers examined 40 years of data from three sources: on-site observations, undersea cables, and satellite altimetry, to analyze the current’s behavior around the Florida Straits.

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