Scientists, researchers, and students are gathering in Dublin tomorrow (Thursday) to discuss the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) and its impact on local and regional climate. The meeting aims to foster scientific exchange and develop a unified strategy to deepen understanding of the AMOC by reconstruction of its past, observation of its present state, and modelling projections of its future.
January 8th, 2025
Hosted by Met Éireann, the two-day workshop, is the second such annual gathering and will bring together approximately 50 experts in observational, numerical, and paleoclimatological studies. Participants will discuss recent concepts such as the AMOC tipping point, a potential strengthening or weakening AMOC, and the possibility or implications of a shutdown, aiming to provide insights and clarity on these critical topics.
A packed schedule of talks will kick off tomorrow morning with an overview of recent AMOC research by Met Éireann climate scientist and AMOC expert, Dr Tido Semmler, followed by the opening keynote presentation on AMOC variability in the deep western basin of the North Atlantic Ocean through the last large ice-age climate cycle, by Prof Jerry McManus of the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory Department at Columbia University.
Among a total of ten feature talks will be two further keynote speeches. The first is by Dr Neil Fraser from the Scottish Association for Marine Science on “Vertical Velocity Dynamics in the North Atlantic and Implications for AMOC” and the second by Dr Dimitry Sidorenko of the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research on “Exploring AMOC Dynamics: Density vs. Traditional Z frameworks”.
Attendees will reconvene on Friday to work on the development of a white paper outlining key research priorities and opportunities for collaboration. They will also discuss the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO)-led Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) draft Assessment Update, and identify key areas where Irish research can contribute.
AMOC researchers at the previous meeting at Maynooth University in January 2024
The AMOC has been a hot topic of discussion among experts and the wider public in recent months due to potential changes in the system and the impacts those changes may have on regional and global weather and climate.
Last month, Dr Tido Semmler provided an introduction to the system, its influence on the planet, how it is likely to evolve, and how climate change may be affecting ocean currents and temperatures.
If you are interested to read more about the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) and its evolution, check out our dedicated landing page.