Disconnection of the late Pliocene Agulhas Leakage from Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation

Researchers studying late Pliocene sediment cores have found that the Agulhas Leakage and the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation were disconnected during that period. This finding challenges the long-held scientific belief that salt supply from the Indian Ocean is a primary driver of Atlantic circulation strength.
Why it matters
Understanding the historical drivers of ocean circulation is critical for improving the accuracy of climate models used to predict future ocean behavior and climate change.
Nature Geoscience ( 2026 ) Cite this article
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