Environment & Climate
Climate connection between Indian and Pacific oceans is breaking, study finds
Greenhouse gas emissions may be disrupting a centuries-old ocean link, ScienceDaily reports.
The short version
- Researchers at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution found greenhouse gas emissions may be breaking the climate link between the tropical Indian and Pacific oceans.[ScienceDaily]
- Scientists reconstructed conditions back to the early 1600s using paleoclimate evidence from corals, tree rings, and stalagmites.[ScienceDaily]
- Major volcanic eruptions previously disrupted this relationship between 1810 and 1850, but recent changes appear unusual.[ScienceDaily]
- Instrumental climate records cover less than a century, complicating assessments of whether modern shifts exceed historical baselines.[ScienceDaily]
Key facts
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution researchers found greenhouse gas emissions may be driving an unusual breakdown in the tropical Indian and Pacific climate connection.[ScienceDaily]
- Researchers reconstructed conditions back to the early 1600s using paleoclimate evidence from tree rings, corals, and stalagmites.[ScienceDaily]
- Major tropical volcanic eruptions disrupted the relationship between the two ocean basins between 1810 and 1850.[ScienceDaily]
- Instrumental climate records cover less than 100 years, limiting modern observation windows.[ScienceDaily]
What remains uncertain
- Reliable instrumental measurements cover less than a century, presenting challenges in determining how unusual recent changes are compared to pre-industrial norms.[ScienceDaily]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.
- Global warming is breaking a 400-year climate link between two oceansScienceDaily - Environment