Abstract
The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) is a critical component of the climate system, and its potential weakening due to freshwater forcing from the Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS) melt poses significant risks for regional and global climate. This study investigates the sensitivity of the AMOC to idealized freshwater perturbations representing GrIS melt using a comprehensive Earth system model. We performed a series of hosing experiments with varying magnitudes (0.1–0.5 Sv) and locations (south, east, west Greenland) over a 200-year period. Results show that AMOC strength declines linearly with freshwater input, with a sensitivity of approximately 3.2 Sv per 0.1 Sv of forcing. The location of forcing modulates the response: freshwater input along the east coast of Greenland produces the strongest weakening due to direct interaction with deep-water formation sites. Recovery timescales exceed 100 years for the largest forcing scenarios. Our findings underscore the nonlinear and location-dependent nature of AMOC sensitivity, with implications for future projections of GrIS melt and potential tipping points.