Judging by new ocean sediment measurements and climate model runs the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) was ‘at least as strong’ during the last ice age’s Last Glacial Maximum as it is today.

This we learn from a team of scientists led by the University of Heidelberg, who just published research findings in Nature Geoscience.

Their isotope measurements of Atlantic sediments dating back to 20,000 years BP, about when the glaciation during the last of the Pleistocene ice ages reached its maximum extent, in fact indicate the AMOC may have even worked a bit harder to carry warm waters from the Gulf of Mexico (via the Gulf Stream) to the North Atlantic – and the European coast.

We now wonder whether finding an active Gulf Stream does not necessarily hinder European glaciation further hurts the Younger Dryas stopped Gulf Stream hypothesis.

© Rolf Schuttenhelm | www.bitsofscience.org