A groundbreaking study by NOAA and its partners has revealed that the Florida Current, a critical component of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), has maintained its strength over the past 40 years. This finding challenges previous concerns about a significant decline in ocean currents due to climate change.
Since 1982, NOAA’s Western Boundary Time Series (WBTS) project has been tracking the Florida Current using a unique submarine cable system. This cable measures voltage changes caused by salt ions in the current, providing one of the longest observational records of any ocean current. Despite earlier reports suggesting a weakening trend, recent corrections to the data show that the Florida Current has remained stable, contradicting fears of a dramatic slowdown.
This stability is significant because the Florida Current plays a crucial role in regulating coastal sea levels, weather patterns, and climate. The study’s lead author, Dr. Denis Volkov, noted that while this result is promising, it does not rule out the possibility of future changes in the AMOC or the Florida Current.