Asian aerosols linked to slowing Atlantic Ocean currents

Asian aerosols linked to slowing Atlantic Ocean currents
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Mar 19, 2024

The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), a vital component of the Earth's climate system, has attracted significant scientific and public interest since its monitoring began in 2004. It has inspired extensive research and even became the backdrop for a highly successful movie.

Recent findings, published in Nature Communications, shed light on how aerosols from Asia influence the AMOC. The study, "Increased Asian Aerosols Drive a Slowdown of Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation," highlights the significant impact of these particles on the circulation's pace.

Jian Lu, an Earth scientist from the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), collaborated with colleagues from the Ocean University of China and the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology to explore the complex interactions between aerosols and the AMOC. Their research marks a pivotal step in understanding the AMOC's response to external factors.

The AMOC, often likened to a global conveyor belt, plays a critical role in distributing heat and nutrients across the Atlantic. This process affects climate conditions on adjacent continents. Lu compares the AMOC to a household ventilation system, emphasizing the potential climate ramifications if this "conveyor belt" were to slow down or cease.

This new study focuses on the impact of anthropogenic, or human-made, aerosols, particularly from Asia. While previous research has acknowledged the role of greenhouse gases and aerosols from North America and Europe in the AMOC's deceleration, the effects of Asian aerosols remained less understood.

Through advanced climate model simulations, the team demonstrated how increased aerosol emissions from Asia cool the Earth's surface and subsequently slow the AMOC. This discovery underlines the interconnectedness of global climate systems and the far-reaching effects of regional pollution.

The research underscores the importance of reducing emissions from anthropogenic aerosols in Asia. Such measures could mitigate local pollution levels and contribute to stabilizing the AMOC, with broader implications for global climate stability.

Lu's involvement in the study was supported by the DOE Office of Science's Biological and Environmental Research program, highlighting the significance of international collaboration in addressing global environmental challenges.

Research Report:Increased Asian aerosols drive a slowdown of Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation