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  Impact of an AMOC weakening on the stability of the southern Amazon rainforest

Ciemer, C., Winkelmann, R., Kurths, J., Boers, N. (2021): Impact of an AMOC weakening on the stability of the southern Amazon rainforest. - European Physical Journal - Special Topics, 230, 14-15, 3065-3073.
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjs/s11734-021-00186-x

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Ciemer, Catrin1, Author              
Winkelmann, Ricarda1, Author              
Kurths, Jürgen1, Author              
Boers, Niklas1, Author              
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1Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, ou_persistent13              

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 Abstract: The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) and the Amazon rainforest are potential tipping elements of the Earth system, i.e., they may respond with abrupt and potentially irreversible state transitions to a gradual change in forcing once a critical forcing threshold is crossed. With progressing global warming, it becomes more likely that the Amazon will reach such a critical threshold, due to projected reductions of precipitation in tropical South America, which would in turn trigger vegetation transitions from tropical forest to savanna. At the same time, global warming has likely already contributed to a weakening of the AMOC, which induces changes in tropical Atlantic sea-surface temperature (SST) patterns that in turn affect rainfall patterns in the Amazon. A large-scale decline or even dieback of the Amazon rainforest would imply the loss of the largest terrestrial carbon sink, and thereby have drastic consequences for the global climate. Here, we assess the direct impact of greenhouse gas-driven warming of the tropical Atlantic ocean on Amazon rainfall. In addition, we estimate the effect of an AMOC slowdown or collapse, e. g. induced by freshwater flux into the North Atlantic due to melting of the Greenland Ice Sheet, on Amazon rainfall. In order to provide a clear explanation of the underlying dynamics, we use a simple, but robust mathematical approach (based on the classical Stommel two-box model), ensuring consistency with a comprehensive general circulation model (HadGEM3). We find that these two processes, both caused by global warming, are likely to have competing impacts on the rainfall sum in the Amazon, and hence on the stability of the Amazon rainforest. A future AMOC decline may thus counteract direct global-warming-induced rainfall reductions. Tipping of the AMOC from the strong to the weak mode may therefore have a stabilizing effect on the Amazon rainforest.

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 Dates: 2021-05-262021-06-282021-10
 Publication Status: Finally published
 Pages: -
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 Table of Contents: -
 Rev. Type: Peer
 Identifiers: DOI: 10.1140/epjs/s11734-021-00186-x
PIKDOMAIN: RD4 - Complexity Science
PIKDOMAIN: RD1 - Earth System Analysis
Organisational keyword: RD4 - Complexity Science
Organisational keyword: RD1 - Earth System Analysis
Research topic keyword: Atmosphere
Research topic keyword: Complex Networks
Research topic keyword: Oceans
Regional keyword: South America
MDB-ID: Entry suspended
OATYPE: Hybrid - DEAL Springer Nature
 Degree: -

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Title: European Physical Journal - Special Topics
Source Genre: Journal, SCI, Scopus, p3
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Pages: - Volume / Issue: 230 (14-15) Sequence Number: - Start / End Page: 3065 - 3073 Identifier: CoNE: https://publications.pik-potsdam.de/cone/journals/resource/150617