Climate projections suggest a weakening or collapse of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) under global warming, with evidence that a slowdown is already underway. This could have significant ramifications for Atlantic Ocean heat transport, Arctic sea ice extent and regional North Atlantic climate. However, the potential for far-reaching effects, such as teleconnections to adjacent basins and into the Southern Hemisphere, remains unclear. Here, using a global climate model we show that AMOC collapse can accelerate the Pacific trade winds and Walker circulation by leaving an excess of heat in the tropical South Atlantic. This tropical warming drives anomalous atmospheric convection, resulting in enhanced subsidence over the east Pacific and a strengthened Walker circulation and trade winds. Further teleconnections include weakening of the Indian and South Atlantic subtropical highs and deepening of the Amundsen Sea Low. These findings have important implications for understanding the global climate response to ongoing greenhouse gas increases.

气候预测表明，在全球变暖的情况下，大西洋经向翻转环流 (AMOC) 会减弱或崩溃，有证据表明已经开始放缓。这可能对大西洋热传输、北极海冰范围和北大西洋区域气候产生重大影响。然而，深远影响的潜力，例如与邻近盆地和南半球的遥相关，仍不清楚。在这里，我们使用全球气候模型表明，AMOC 崩溃可以通过在热带南大西洋留下过多的热量来加速太平洋信风和沃克环流。这种热带变暖推动了异常的大气对流，导致东太平洋上空的沉降增强，沃克环流和信风增强。进一步的遥相关包括印度和南大西洋副热带高压的减弱以及阿蒙森海低压的加深。这些发现对于理解全球气候对持续温室气体增加的反应具有重要意义。