The Atlantic Ocean is cooling rapidly and scientists cannot explain this change in temperature

The WMO warns that ocean warming is reaching record levels. (EFE/ROMÁN G. AGUILERA/Archive)

The Atlantic Ocean has experienced a unique drop in surface temperatures in recent months, to the point that scientists are baffled. Data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) indicate that since May, Atlantic temperatures have been between one and two degrees Fahrenheit below the usual average for this time of year, as reported by UNILAND magazine. This contrasts with the record increase in temperatures recorded throughout last year.

The rapid cooling of the Atlantic has generated a range of speculation among experts, who are trying to find a coherent explanation for this anomaly. Initially, it was expected that ocean temperatures would increase during these months, partly due to climate change and the influence of weather patterns such as El Niño. This phenomenon is characterized by the warming of the waters of the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, affecting global climate conditions.

The significant variation in Atlantic temperatures could have serious implications beyond the ocean itself. According to NOAA, shifts between El Niño and La Niña have been shown to impact rainfall rates on nearby continents. In addition, El Niño elements in the Atlantic have been observed to increase the likelihood of hurricanes near the Cape Verde Islands.

The Atlantic had shown a general increase in temperatures since March 2023, driven by a particularly strong El Niño. However, the recent trend suggests an unusual transition to its counterpart, La Niña, which is normally characterized by unusually cold ocean temperatures.

Frans Philip Tuchen, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Miami, expressed his bewilderment to New Scientist: “We have gone through the list of possible mechanisms and, so far, nothing adds up.” Both weather patterns, El Niño and La Niña, depend on a complex set of factors, such as trade winds, solar heating and rainfall, which makes them difficult to predict and understand.

NOAA’s Michael McPhaden added that these climate changes could also affect global ocean cycles. A delay in the Pacific La Niña could trigger a climate “tug-of-war” between the Atlantic and Pacific, with one trying to warm up while the other seeks to cool down.

To date, research and monitoring continue to determine whether the Atlantic is in full transition to a La Niña phase. If this happens, climate predictions for adjacent regions could experience significant adjustments for the rest of the year.