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Arctic sea-ice decline weakens the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation

Author

Listed:
  • Florian Sévellec

    (Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton)

  • Alexey V. Fedorov

    (Yale University)

  • Wei Liu

    (Yale University)

Abstract

The ongoing decline of Arctic sea ice exposes the ocean to anomalous surface heat and freshwater fluxes, resulting in positive buoyancy anomalies that can affect ocean circulation. In this study, we use an optimal flux perturbation framework and comprehensive climate model simulations to estimate the sensitivity of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) to such buoyancy forcing over the Arctic and globally, and more generally to sea-ice decline. It is found that on decadal timescales, flux anomalies over the subpolar North Atlantic have the largest impact on the AMOC, while on multi-decadal timescales (longer than 20 years), flux anomalies in the Arctic become more important. These positive buoyancy anomalies spread to the North Atlantic, weakening the AMOC and its poleward heat transport. Therefore, the Arctic sea-ice decline may explain the suggested slow-down of the AMOC and the ‘Warming Hole’ persisting in the subpolar North Atlantic.

Suggested Citation

  • Florian Sévellec & Alexey V. Fedorov & Wei Liu, 2017. "Arctic sea-ice decline weakens the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 7(8), pages 604-610, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcli:v:7:y:2017:i:8:d:10.1038_nclimate3353
    DOI: 10.1038/nclimate3353
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    Cited by:

    1. Jiechun Deng & Aiguo Dai, 2022. "Sea ice–air interactions amplify multidecadal variability in the North Atlantic and Arctic region," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-13, December.
    2. Beatriz Arellano-Nava & Paul R. Halloran & Chris A. Boulton & James Scourse & Paul G. Butler & David J. Reynolds & Timothy M. Lenton, 2022. "Destabilisation of the Subpolar North Atlantic prior to the Little Ice Age," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-8, December.
    3. Jun Meng & Jingfang Fan & Uma S. Bhatt & Jürgen Kurths, 2023. "Arctic weather variability and connectivity," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    4. Fukai Liu & Xun Li & Yiyong Luo & Wenju Cai & Jian Lu & Xiao-Tong Zheng & Sarah M. Kang & Hai Wang & Lei Zhou, 2024. "Increased Asian aerosols drive a slowdown of Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-9, December.

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