Deep learning based reconstructions of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation confirm twenty-first century decline

Gaining knowledge of the past and present variations of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) is crucial for the development of accurate future climate projections. The short range covered by direct AMOC observations, inconsistent paleoclimate records, and scattered hydrographic dat...

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Main Authors: Simon L L Michel, Henk A Dijkstra, Francesco Guardamagna, Valérian Jacques-Dumas, René M van Westen, Anna S von der Heydt
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IOP Publishing 2025-01-01
Series:Environmental Research Letters
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/add7f0
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author Simon L L Michel
Henk A Dijkstra
Francesco Guardamagna
Valérian Jacques-Dumas
René M van Westen
Anna S von der Heydt
author_facet Simon L L Michel
Henk A Dijkstra
Francesco Guardamagna
Valérian Jacques-Dumas
René M van Westen
Anna S von der Heydt
author_sort Simon L L Michel
collection DOAJ
description Gaining knowledge of the past and present variations of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) is crucial for the development of accurate future climate projections. The short range covered by direct AMOC observations, inconsistent paleoclimate records, and scattered hydrographic data are insufficient to realistically reconstruct the AMOC strength since 1900. An AMOC proxy index based on sea surface temperatures suggests that the AMOC has declined by 15% since the late 19th century but this index received extensive scientific criticism. Here, we use a deep learning algorithm and climate model simulations to accurately reconstruct the AMOC strength between 20° N and 60° N since 1900. In contrast with the existing indices, our reconstructions are well in agreement with AMOC strength variations simulated by climate models and direct observations at 26.5° N. Our novel set of AMOC reconstructions contribute to a larger confidence in 21st century AMOC decline projections from climate models.
format Article
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institution Kabale University
issn 1748-9326
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
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series Environmental Research Letters
spelling doaj-art-82f27fa0727b4b11b052a989c2f282212025-08-20T03:54:07ZengIOP PublishingEnvironmental Research Letters1748-93262025-01-0120606403610.1088/1748-9326/add7f0Deep learning based reconstructions of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation confirm twenty-first century declineSimon L L Michel0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5709-4755Henk A Dijkstra1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5817-7675Francesco Guardamagna2https://orcid.org/0009-0002-9501-9208Valérian Jacques-Dumas3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8192-9051René M van Westen4https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8807-7269Anna S von der Heydt5https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5557-3282Institute for Marine and Atmospheric research Utrecht (IMAU), Utrecht University , Utrecht, The Netherlands; Atmospheric Oceanic and Planetary Physics (AOPP), University of Oxford , Oxford, United KingdomInstitute for Marine and Atmospheric research Utrecht (IMAU), Utrecht University , Utrecht, The NetherlandsInstitute for Marine and Atmospheric research Utrecht (IMAU), Utrecht University , Utrecht, The NetherlandsInstitute for Marine and Atmospheric research Utrecht (IMAU), Utrecht University , Utrecht, The NetherlandsInstitute for Marine and Atmospheric research Utrecht (IMAU), Utrecht University , Utrecht, The NetherlandsInstitute for Marine and Atmospheric research Utrecht (IMAU), Utrecht University , Utrecht, The NetherlandsGaining knowledge of the past and present variations of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) is crucial for the development of accurate future climate projections. The short range covered by direct AMOC observations, inconsistent paleoclimate records, and scattered hydrographic data are insufficient to realistically reconstruct the AMOC strength since 1900. An AMOC proxy index based on sea surface temperatures suggests that the AMOC has declined by 15% since the late 19th century but this index received extensive scientific criticism. Here, we use a deep learning algorithm and climate model simulations to accurately reconstruct the AMOC strength between 20° N and 60° N since 1900. In contrast with the existing indices, our reconstructions are well in agreement with AMOC strength variations simulated by climate models and direct observations at 26.5° N. Our novel set of AMOC reconstructions contribute to a larger confidence in 21st century AMOC decline projections from climate models.https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/add7f0AMOC reconstructionmachine learningclimate models validation
spellingShingle Simon L L Michel
Henk A Dijkstra
Francesco Guardamagna
Valérian Jacques-Dumas
René M van Westen
Anna S von der Heydt
Deep learning based reconstructions of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation confirm twenty-first century decline
Environmental Research Letters
AMOC reconstruction
machine learning
climate models validation
title Deep learning based reconstructions of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation confirm twenty-first century decline
title_full Deep learning based reconstructions of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation confirm twenty-first century decline
title_fullStr Deep learning based reconstructions of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation confirm twenty-first century decline
title_full_unstemmed Deep learning based reconstructions of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation confirm twenty-first century decline
title_short Deep learning based reconstructions of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation confirm twenty-first century decline
title_sort deep learning based reconstructions of the atlantic meridional overturning circulation confirm twenty first century decline
topic AMOC reconstruction
machine learning
climate models validation
url https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/add7f0
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AT francescoguardamagna deeplearningbasedreconstructionsoftheatlanticmeridionaloverturningcirculationconfirmtwentyfirstcenturydecline
AT valerianjacquesdumas deeplearningbasedreconstructionsoftheatlanticmeridionaloverturningcirculationconfirmtwentyfirstcenturydecline
AT renemvanwesten deeplearningbasedreconstructionsoftheatlanticmeridionaloverturningcirculationconfirmtwentyfirstcenturydecline
AT annasvonderheydt deeplearningbasedreconstructionsoftheatlanticmeridionaloverturningcirculationconfirmtwentyfirstcenturydecline