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Increased Asian aerosols drive a slowdown of Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation

Author

Listed:
  • Fukai Liu

    (Ocean University of China)

  • Xun Li

    (Ocean University of China)

  • Yiyong Luo

    (Ocean University of China)

  • Wenju Cai

    (Ocean University of China
    Laoshan Laboratory
    Xiamen University
    Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Jian Lu

    (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory)

  • Xiao-Tong Zheng

    (Ocean University of China)

  • Sarah M. Kang

    (Max Planck Institute for Meteorology)

  • Hai Wang

    (Ocean University of China)

  • Lei Zhou

    (Shanghai Jiao Tong University
    Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai))

Abstract

Observational evidence and climate model experiments suggest a slowdown of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) since the mid-1990s. Increased greenhouse gases and the declined anthropogenic aerosols (AAs) over North America and Europe are believed to contribute to the AMOC slowdown. Asian AAs continue to increase but the associated impact has been unclear. Using ensembles of climate simulations, here we show that the radiative cooling resulting from increased Asian AAs drives an AMOC reduction. The increased AAs over Asia generate circumglobal stationary Rossby waves in the northern midlatitudes, which shift the westerly jet stream southward and weaken the subpolar North Atlantic westerlies. Consequently, reduced transport of cold air from North America hinders water mass transformation in the Labrador Sea and thus contributes to the AMOC slowdown. The link between increased Asian AAs and an AMOC slowdown is supported by different models with different configurations. Thus, reducing emissions of Asian AAs will not only lower local air pollution, but also help stabilize the AMOC.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-44597-x
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44597-x
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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