New Physics-Based Early Warning Signal shows AMOC is on Tipping Course

Abstract: One of the most prominent climate tipping elements is the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), which can potentially collapse due to the input of fresh water in the North Atlantic. Although AMOC collapses have been induced in state-of-the-art Global Climate Models (GCMs) by strong freshwater forcing, an AMOC tipping event has so far not been found. Here, we show results of the first AMOC tipping event in such a GCM, the Community Earth System Model, including the large climate impacts of the associated AMOC collapse. Using these results, we develop a new physics-based and observable early warning signal of AMOC tipping: the minimum of the AMOC induced freshwater transport at the southern boundary of the Atlantic. Available observational and reanalysis data indicate that the present-day AMOC is on route to tipping. The new early warning signal is a useful alternative to classical statistical ones which, when applied to our simulated AMOC tipping event, turn out to be sensitive to the analysed time interval before tipping.