ABSTRACT Reorganizations of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation were associated with large and abrupt climatic changes in the North Atlantic region during the last glacial

period1,2,3,4. Projections with climate models suggest that similar reorganizations may also occur in response to anthropogenic global warming5,6,7. Here I use ensemble simulations with a

coupled climate–ecosytem model of intermediate complexity to investigate the possible consequences of such disturbances to the marine ecosystem. In the simulations, a disruption of the

Atlantic meridional overturning circulation leads to a collapse of the North Atlantic plankton stocks to less than half of their initial biomass, owing to rapid shoaling of winter mixed

global ocean productivity is sensitive to changes in the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation. Access through your institution Buy or subscribe This is a preview of subscription

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ACCESS OPTIONS: * Log in * Learn about institutional subscriptions * Read our FAQs * Contact customer support SIMILAR CONTENT BEING VIEWED BY OTHERS WEAKENING OF THE ATLANTIC MERIDIONAL

OVERTURNING CIRCULATION DRIVEN BY SUBARCTIC FRESHENING SINCE THE MID-TWENTIETH CENTURY Article 18 November 2024 HUMAN-INDUCED CHANGES IN THE GLOBAL MERIDIONAL OVERTURNING CIRCULATION ARE

EMERGING FROM THE SOUTHERN OCEAN Article Open access 13 March 2023 CONTINUED ATLANTIC OVERTURNING CIRCULATION EVEN UNDER CLIMATE EXTREMES Article Open access 26 February 2025 REFERENCES *

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Productivity data sets were provided by D. Antoine and W. Gregg. Discussions with A. Oschlies, M. Sarnthein, M. Weinelt and H. Kinkel were appreciated. This research was supported as part of

the research unit (Forschergruppe 451) on ocean gateways by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG). AUTHOR INFORMATION AUTHORS AND AFFILIATIONS * College of Oceanic and Atmospheric

Sciences, Oregon State University, 104 COAS Admin. Bldg, Corvallis, Oregon, 97331, USA Andreas Schmittner Authors * Andreas Schmittner View author publications You can also search for this

author inPubMed Google Scholar CORRESPONDING AUTHOR Correspondence to Andreas Schmittner. ETHICS DECLARATIONS COMPETING INTERESTS The authors declare that they have no competing financial

interests. RIGHTS AND PERMISSIONS Reprints and permissions ABOUT THIS ARTICLE CITE THIS ARTICLE Schmittner, A. Decline of the marine ecosystem caused by a reduction in the Atlantic

overturning circulation. _Nature_ 434, 628–633 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature03476 Download citation * Received: 06 August 2004 * Accepted: 07 February 2005 * Issue Date: 31 March

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