The Cold Pool feature of the Middle Atlantic Bight (MAB) is a body of cold bottom water that develops in the spring and persists through the summer-autumn months. It is maintained by northerly currents and can be traced back to Arctic water masses. The Cold Pool provides habitat for many boreal species at latitudes far south of their normal range and plays an important role in the population dynamics of lower and upper trophic level organisms. Here, we describe changes in the extent and thermal properties of the Cold Pool using both observations and models. Two indices are developed based on a gridded, interpolated bottom temperature dataset; the first is a mean temperature indicator, and the second is a spatial extent indicator. The temperature indicator showed a significant increasing trend over the study period 1968–2019 and a single change point in 2008. Similarly, the area indicator declined significantly, also displaying a change point in 2008. Cold Pool maximum temperature and minimum size were observed in 2017, which is also known as a heatwave year in the MAB. The indices presented here support the view of a rapidly warming Cold Pool that is being limited in its spatial extent. Changes in Cold Pool hydrography will likely affect boreal species distributions and total ecosystem productivity.

中文翻译：

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中大西洋湾冷池正在变暖和缩小：原地秋季海底温度指数

中大西洋湾 (MAB) 的冷池特征是在春季形成的冷底水体，并持续到夏秋月份。它由偏北的洋流维持，可以追溯到北极水团。冷池为许多位于正常范围以南纬度的北方物种提供栖息地，并在低营养级和高营养级生物的种群动态中发挥重要作用。在这里，我们使用观测和模型来描述冷池的范围和热特性的变化。基于网格化、插值的底部温度数据集开发了两个指数；第一个是平均温度指标，第二个是空间范围指标。温度指标在 1968-2019 年研究期间呈显着上升趋势，2008 年出现单一变化点。同样，面积指标显着下降，也在 2008 年呈现变化点。冷池最高温度和最小尺寸在2017 年，也被称为 MAB 的热浪年。这里提供的指数支持快速变暖的冷池的观点，该冷池的空间范围受到限制。冷池水文的变化可能会影响北方物种分布和整个生态系统生产力。这里提供的指数支持快速变暖的冷池的观点，该冷池的空间范围受到限制。冷池水文的变化可能会影响北方物种分布和整个生态系统生产力。这里提供的指数支持快速变暖的冷池的观点，该冷池的空间范围受到限制。冷池水文的变化可能会影响北方物种分布和整个生态系统生产力。