Volcanic eruptions caused weakening AMOC during the preindustrial past millennium.
basic_science · Level V
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- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 42364997.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1038/s41467-026-74873-5.
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Abstract
The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) is a key component of our climate system. However, the evolution history and the forcing mechanism of AMOC in the last millennial has remained uncertain. Here, combining available paleo AMOC-sensitive indicators with multiple climate models and paleo Data Assimilation, we show, for the first time, that the AMOC transport exhibits a slow declining trend into the Little Ice Age, with a reduction of about <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mo>-</mo><mn>0.7</mn><mspace></mspace><mo>±</mo><mn>0.4</mn><mi>S</mi><mi>v</mi><mo>.</mo></math> (~4%) from AD 850-1850. This weakening is mainly caused by explosive volcanic eruptions. After a rapid strengthening in the initial decade following a volcanic eruption, the AMOC tends to show a slow weakening of centennial timescale, driven by stored cooling in the deep Atlantic and its feedback on North Atlantic climate.