Levke Caesar: "Oceanic Slowdown: Decoding the AMOC"

The Great Simplification with Nate Hagens

(Conversation recorded on April 23rd, 2024)

Show Summary:

On this episode, Nate is joined by climate physicist Levke Caesar for a comprehensive overview of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) and its connections to broader planetary systems. Amid a complex and heavily interconnected climate system, the AMOC is a powerful force for regulating temperature between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres along the Atlantic Ocean - yet it’s estimated to have slowed down by about 15% over the last few decades. What are the possible domino effects of this slowing oceanic powerhouse at a regional and global scale? How well do we understand what drives the AMOC, its cyclical patterns, and connections with other currents? More importantly, how does the AMOC interact with other biospheric mechanisms that have shaped our stable, life-supporting planetary home?

About Levke Caesar:

Levke Caesar is a climate physicist at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, mainly known for her studies on the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) and its pivotal role in the climate system. Her research primarily focuses on the past, present, and future evolution of the AMOC and its intricate interactions within the North Atlantic region. Caesar's seminal work on the historical evolution of the AMOC has been featured in prestigious journals such as Nature and Nature Geoscience, garnering hundreds of citations. Since October 2023, she has assumed the role of scientific lead for the newly launched Planetary Boundary Science Initiative (PBScience) at PIK.

Show Notes

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00:00 - Intro

1:59 - Levke’s Background

4:29 - What is the AMOC?

10:45 - AMOC Risks

15:25 - Ocean Salinity

20:47 - Three Potential Scenarios

31:11 - Canfield Ocean

36:46 - Effects in Europe and Globally

45:31 - Public Awareness

49:02 - Measuring AMOC

52:40 - The Gulf Stream

56:24 - AMOC Feedbacks

1:00:18 - Scientific Consensus

1:04:53 - Levke’s Work

1:10:02 - Interventions and Suggestions

1:16:52 - How to Live a Normal Life

1:21:38 - Personal Advice

1:26:35 - What Would You Do with a Magic Wand?

1:27:36 - Closing Thoughts