Australasian Hydroclimate Response to the Collapse of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation Under Pre-Industrial and Last Interglacial Climates

Abstract

Abrupt climate change events during the last glacial period and the Last Interglacial (LIG) resulted from changes in the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). Over the last 50 years, there is some evidence that the AMOC has weakened, and it is projected to weaken further or even collapse this century driven by the increase in atmospheric greenhouse gases. However, the impact of an AMOC weakening on Australasian hydroclimate is still unclear, particularly under a climate warmer than the pre-industrial (PI). Using the ACCESS-ESM1.5 model, we assess the processes impacting seasonal hydroclimate in the Australasian region in response to an AMOC shutdown under PI and the LIG climati..