New research using sediment cores off the coast of Chile provides physical evidence that a weakening Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) triggers rapid changes in the Southern Ocean. This connection suggests that Atlantic slowdowns push heat and oxygen into deep Pacific waters, altering global climate patterns. These findings have significant implications for carbon sequestration. When deep ocean ventilation increases, stored carbon can move into shallower layers and escape into the atmosphere, potentially accelerating warming and disrupting marine ecosystems and fisheries.
