The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) is a key part of Earth’s climate system, moving warm water northward and returning cold water southward at depth. This circulation helps regulate global heat distribution, influences weather patterns, and sustains marine ecosystems. Geological records show that AMOC has switched on and off abruptly in the past, with major consequences for climate, but it was long assumed to be stable in warm periods like today. Recent evidence, however, points to a weakening AMOC under human-driven climate change, and many climate models project the potential for abrupt collapse in the coming century.
What this would mean for Antarctica is uncertain. Past evidence suggests AMOC collapse may have warmed the Southern Ocean surface, increasing the risk of ice shelf melt, while other model experiments suggest subsurface cooling that could slow melting at the ice–ocean interface. This project aims to resolve these competing possibilities by using models to simulate Antarctic Ice Sheet responses to AMOC collapse. By forcing the model with atmospheric and ocean conditions from climate experiments, we can explore how changes in global circulation may impact Antarctica’s future stability and its contribution to sea-level rise.
If you are a prospective student or postdoc interested in exploring this topic further, please contact us to discuss specific works.