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The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation and Abrupt Climate Change
1School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332;
Annual Review of Marine Science
|November 5, 2016
Summary
Abrupt climate shifts, especially in the North Atlantic, are linked to changes in the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC). Ocean sediment data strongly supports AMOC variability during major glacial events.
Area of Science:
- Paleoclimatology
- Oceanography
- Climate Science
Background:
- Abrupt climate changes, characterized by rapid temperature shifts, have been observed globally during the last glacial cycle.
- These climate variations, particularly pronounced in the North Atlantic, are hypothesized to be driven by changes in ocean circulation patterns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and synthesize evidence from marine sediments concerning alterations in ocean circulation during abrupt climate events.
- To assess the role of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) in past climate variability.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of paleoceanographic proxy data from marine sediment cores.
- Correlation of sediment records with known abrupt climate events such as the Younger Dryas, Heinrich events, and Dansgaard-Oeschger events.
Main Results:
- Strong evidence indicates significant changes in the strength and structure of the AMOC during the Younger Dryas and Heinrich events.
- Recent findings suggest AMOC variability also occurred during most Dansgaard-Oeschger events, though direct documentation remains challenging for shorter oscillations.
Conclusions:
- The Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) plays a crucial role in driving abrupt climate variability.
- While AMOC changes are strongly implicated in major glacial events, alternative mechanisms may drive the shortest millennial-scale climate oscillations due to a lack of direct circulation evidence.
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