Decline of the marine ecosystem caused by a reduction in the Atlantic overturning circulation

Andreas Schmittner ()
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Andreas Schmittner: Oregon State University

Nature, 2005, vol. 434, issue 7033, 628-633

Abstract: Ecosystems in hot water Changes in the North Atlantic component of global ocean overturning circulation, the AMO (Atlantic meridional overturning), were associated with abrupt climate change during the last ice age. It has been suggested that global warming could enhance freshwater discharge into the North Atlantic and shut down the AMO, causing significant cooling. These possible climate effects have attracted a lot of attention, but little thought has been given to what might happen to the marine ecosystem if the AMO were to weaken or disappear. Andreas Schmittner has performed a detailed simulation and finds that a collapse of the AMO would cut global productivity by about 20%. The model results are consistent with the available records of past productivity. The decline in plankton stocks that would accompany changes of that scale could have a dramatic impact on fisheries in the affected areas.

Date: 2005
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DOI: 10.1038/nature03476

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