"Gulf Stream Weakening Confirmed by Groundbreaking Study"

A new study using Bayesian modeling has provided the first conclusive evidence that the Gulf Stream, a major ocean current off the U.S. East Coast, has weakened by about 4% over the past four decades. The study, based on data from undersea cables, satellite altimetry, and in situ observations, confirms a significant long-term change in the Gulf Stream's transport of water through the Florida Straits. The weakening of this climate-relevant ocean current could have implications for weather, climate, and coastal conditions, including European surface air temperature, precipitation, coastal sea level, and North Atlantic hurricane activity. The study does not determine the cause of the weakening, leaving it open to future investigation.