Beaufort Gyre Stabilizes, But Freshwater Catastrophe Looms?
A recent study has shown that the anti-cyclonic Beaufort Gyre, the largest store of freshwater in the Arctic Ocean, has stabilized, which could be a precursor to a significant freshwater release that could impact the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), a key component of global climate. The gyre has increased its freshwater content by 40% compared to 1970s climatology, and the recent transition is associated with a southeastward shift in its location due to variation in the regional wind forcing. Continued thinning of the cold halocline layer could modulate the present stable state, allowing for a freshwater release that could freshen the subpolar North Atlantic, impacting the AMOC.