Probability Estimates of a 21st Century AMOC Collapse

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Main Authors: Smolders, Emma J. V., van Westen, René M., Dijkstra, Henk A.
Format: Preprint
Published: 2024
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author Smolders, Emma J. V.
van Westen, René M.
Dijkstra, Henk A.
author_facet Smolders, Emma J. V.
van Westen, René M.
Dijkstra, Henk A.
contents There is increasing concern that the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) may collapse this century with a disrupting societal impact on large parts of the world. Preliminary estimates of the probability of such an AMOC collapse have so far been based on conceptual models and statistical analyses of proxy data. Here, we provide observationally based estimates of such probabilities from reanalysis data. We first identify optimal observation regions of an AMOC collapse from a recent global climate model simulation. Salinity data near the southern boundary of the Atlantic turn out to be optimal to provide estimates of the time of the AMOC collapse in this model. Based on the reanalysis products, we next determine probability density functions of the AMOC collapse time. The collapse time is estimated between 2037-2064 (10-90% CI) with a mean of 2050 and the probability of an AMOC collapse before the year 2050 is estimated to be 59 +/- 17%.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2406_11738
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Probability Estimates of a 21st Century AMOC Collapse
Smolders, Emma J. V.
van Westen, René M.
Dijkstra, Henk A.
Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics
There is increasing concern that the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) may collapse this century with a disrupting societal impact on large parts of the world. Preliminary estimates of the probability of such an AMOC collapse have so far been based on conceptual models and statistical analyses of proxy data. Here, we provide observationally based estimates of such probabilities from reanalysis data. We first identify optimal observation regions of an AMOC collapse from a recent global climate model simulation. Salinity data near the southern boundary of the Atlantic turn out to be optimal to provide estimates of the time of the AMOC collapse in this model. Based on the reanalysis products, we next determine probability density functions of the AMOC collapse time. The collapse time is estimated between 2037-2064 (10-90% CI) with a mean of 2050 and the probability of an AMOC collapse before the year 2050 is estimated to be 59 +/- 17%.
title Probability Estimates of a 21st Century AMOC Collapse
topic Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2406.11738