the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
TIPMIP-OCEAN experimental protocol phase 1: Tipping dynamics of the AMOC
Abstract. This paper describes the experimental protocol for a set of coordinated simulations involving oceanic surface freshwater flux perturbations, conducted as part of the international Tipping Points Modelling Intercomparison Project (TIPMIP). These simulations constitute the first phase of the TIPMIP-OCEAN domain. We propose this protocol for inclusion in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 7 (CMIP7), although it can also be implemented within CMIP6+ or other types of coupled or ocean standalone models. This initial phase focuses primarily on the dynamics of the North Atlantic Ocean, particularly the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). The different experiments are designed to (i) evaluate the impacts of a potential major AMOC weakening under a 2 °C global warming scenario, (ii) assess the sensitivity of the AMOC to combined global warming and freshwater forcing, (iii) investigate the potential recovery of the AMOC following the reversal of forcings, and (iv) compare past AMOC variations with available climate observations and reconstructions. Four categories of experiments are included. Experiment group A examines the effect of freshwater release around Greenland under ramp-up, stabilization, and ramp-down scenarios in both CO2 emissions and freshwater input. Experiment group B complements this idealized set by using historical climate simulations and projections for 1850–2100, incorporating realistic estimates of Greenland Ice Sheet melt based on observations for the historical period and ice-sheet model projections for the future. Experiment group C extends the existing North Atlantic Hosing Model Intercomparison Project (NAHosMIP) by applying large freshwater perturbations to both control and 2 °C-warming simulations to assess how global warming influences AMOC reversibility. Finally, experiment group D imposes freshwater inputs, consistent with those inferred for the 8.2 kyr before present event, under pre-industrial conditions, in order to constrain model sensitivity to freshwater forcing using paleoclimate reconstructions. Together, these coordinated experiments will allow systematic evaluation of how different climate models respond to identical freshwater perturbations—an essential step toward better understanding the wide inter-model spread in North Atlantic dynamics and projected future AMOC changes.
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Status: final response (author comments only)
- RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2026-1698', Anonymous Referee #1, 01 May 2026
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RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2026-1698', Anonymous Referee #2, 27 May 2026
This paper describes the experimental protocol for a set of coordinated simulations involving oceanic surface freshwater flux perturbations, conducted as part of the international Tipping Points Modelling Intercomparison Project (TIPMIP). As such, it is not a ‘normal research paper’, but instead provides details so that research group can carry out the needed experiments to contribute to the TIPMIP project. Given the numerical focus of TIPMIP, I do feel it is appropriate for GMD. In fact, I am happy to see such protocols published in the literature rather than just on a webpage or a hard to find report. Making the protocol easily accessible is of value. Additionally, given the amount of work needed to define the protocol, it is appropriate that the authors get the credit for a peer reviewed paper. After reviewing the draft, I would recommend minor revisions. Although generally clear and well presented, there are places where material could be improved. My specific comments are given below.
I prefer the term forced ocean models to ocean standalone models. Especially as it likely that no model is actually ocean only, instead including at least a sea-ice component.Line 79 – Likely newer references to the AMOC than just a 2016 paper. Especially given all the work on the topic.
Line 80 – Given the recent OSNAP results, this general statement of regions could be modernized and more clearly explained. And in general, more literature on the AMOC and its stability would be good. I’d also like to see more background on freshwater sources, and discussion of Greenland melt, versus sources of freshwater to the Arctic (including rivers) as well as the impact of fluxes through the gateway straits. For a freshwater hosing protocol, the key background concepts need to be presented.
Line 81 – Doesn’t a significant amount of the AMOC waters upwell in the Atlantic, before it leaves for the other basins?
The discussion of the 8.2 Kyr event focuses on discharge of the glacial lakes through the St. Lawrence into the Atlantic. Yet there is a literature that suggests that there is some debate on where and how the freshwater is released, such as into the McKenzie river into the Arctic Ocean.
Even if the authors want to use a Labrador Sea focused protocol, a proper discussion of the freshwater sources to the event should at least be referenced – and whether it leaves by Hudson Strait or the St. Lawrence River likely may mean different freshwater distributions. For example, might the whole sub-polar gyre be better than just the Labrador Sea, as the freshwater likely has to flow around the gyre to reach the West Greenland Current region. Or why not along the Labrador Coast – high resolution studies have suggested that leads to different freshwater fates for this event.
I didn’t notice any discussion about model resolution in the protocol, and wonder whether that is relevant. That may impact the distance criteria to input the freshwater and thus where the freshwater is input in models with such differences in resolution. At the very least, it may impact the locations of discharge around Greenland, especially if any fiords are at least partially resolved. How might that impact the input of freshwater?
For experiment C, there is no thought on considering the rivers that may provide the enhanced precipitation in a future climate?
Shouldn’t there be an optional for seasonally varying the freshwater input?
What about for models that include icebergs? How shall the discharge be partitioned between solid and liquid components?
For experiment B, Tier 1, what initial conditions are recommended for the 1920s? Wouldn’t it make sense to be consistent, as the choice of initial conditions may impact the model results.
Figure 6. Why use the same dark blue for both fluxes in the ramp up and ramp down scenarios? A slightly different shade might help show that there are two scenarios.
Citation: https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-1698-RC2 -
RC3: 'Comment on egusphere-2026-1698', Anonymous Referee #3, 04 Jun 2026
Review comments on “TIPMIP-OCEAN experimental protocol phase 1: Tipping dynamics of the AMOC” by D. Swingedouw et al.
The authors present a protocol for the ocean component of TIPMIP that focuses on the stability of the AMOC. The MIP proposes a new set of fresh water hosing experiments that partly complement the core TIPMIP experiments and partly extend earlier hosing experiments such as the NAHosMIP.
Many previous community-driven hosing MIPs have focused on adding fresh water to the ocean while keeping the background to the pre-industrial state. The novel aspect of the proposal here is that they add the hosing to climate change simulations or different background states. This is an important aspect as the background climate may influence the AMOC stability and it is also more relevant for the ongoing discussion on the effects of climate change on the AMOC and its consequences for the north Atlantic realm. The MIP proposes a relatively wide range of freshwater applications, from an addition of a “realistic” amount of meltwater from Greenland (exp. B) to very strong, idealized scenarios with (unrealistic) additions of up to 0.6Sv. Thus, the potential analyses can include uncertainty estimates and also address issues of structural differences in the models.
The protocol also includes an extension of the NAHosMIP with relatively simplified set-ups and an experiment with a paleo-backdrop, mimicking the 8.2 kyr event.
The manuscript reflects an extensive discussion in the community and is well balanced so that many modelling groups can participate, either in the full set or selected sub-experiments.
The manuscript is written in a clear and concise way and should be published in GMD.
I have only a few minor issues to consider:
Abstract:
Ln 60: In experiment C, the run at 2 degr. Warmer climate is only tier 2, so it cannot be the general purpose of this experiment to study the effect of background warming. I would formulate it more like Exp. C is extending the NAHosMIP to include the TIPMIP models with the potential to include the global warming aspect.
Ln 80ff: I would support Referee#2 here and include the “post OSNAP” discussion on the relative roles of deep water formation regions and that their representation is certainly model and resolution dependent.
Ln 155 constant background
Ln 207: is the precip bias issue really relevant here?
Ln 219: wasn’t that originally proposed by Gerdes et al (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocemod.2005.08.003)
Ln 240: it would be good to clarify here that some experiments are required in parallel to the core TIPMIP experiments, but for B and C, they can (at least for tier 1) be run in parallel to existing control or historical/scenario simulations.
Ln 373: is “pursued” the correct word here?
Ln 509: …testetd a range of freshwater range from 0 to 0.6 Sv ( no need to mention tier 2 here)
The experiment tables could be made a bit more consistent, e.g. include the initial conditions for all.
Citation: https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-1698-RC3
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The manuscript by Swingedouw and co-authors describes an experimental protocol to systematically analyse AMOC sensitivity under external forcing from both freshwater input and climate change. The authors propose four interesting experiments, which will primarily be performed with Earth System Models (CMIP6+), and which are well suited to address the main scientific questions. The overarching aim is to obtain a better understanding of AMOC sensitivity and, in doing so, to assess AMOC-related impacts that are relevant for society.
I strongly recommend this manuscript for publication in Geoscientific Model Development (GMD). The experimental design is well motivated and clearly presented, with supporting figures and tables. This TIPMIP-OCEAN protocol will provide valuable information for the AMOC community and for assessing the risk of AMOC tipping under future climate change.
That being said, I have a few moderate and minor comments that should be addressed prior to publication.
Moderate comments and suggestions:
Given the typical multi-centennial adjustment timescale of the AMOC (Bonan et al., 2022, already cited) and results from existing pulse-forcing experiments (Jackson et al., 2023, already cited; van Westen et al., 2025, https://doi.org/10.1029/2025JC022651), it is unlikely that a coherent picture of AMOC reversibility can be obtained from the outlined experimental design (Fig. 2). Addressing reversibility would require substantially longer simulations for experiment “Stabilized (Ad)”, which are not mandatory under Tier 1 (Table 1). The 250-year experiment “Stabilized (Ab)” is likely sufficiently long in duration, but because it includes a modified background forcing, it cannot be used to assess reversibility.
My main point is that some aspects of AMOC stability cannot be addressed using simulations that are shorter than the AMOC adjustment timescale. This also applies to Experiments C and D, where the minimum required “stabilization” periods are 50 and 100 years, respectively. Only if modelling groups are willing to extend the stabilization (i.e. no external forcing) phases beyond 100 years can these questions be meaningfully addressed.
I would therefore suggest using more careful language and tempering expectations regarding AMOC reversibility, which is one of the central scientific questions in the TIPMIP-OCEAN protocol (Line 551).
Minor comments and suggestions:
For clarity, I provide below a (non-exhaustive) overview of relevant and recent studies:
General impacts:
- Orihuela-Pinto et al. (2022, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-022-01380-y)
- Bellomo et al. (2023, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-023-06754-2)
- van Westen et al. (2024, already cited)
- Bellomo & Mehling (2024, https://doi.org/10.1029/2023GL107624)
Temperature impacts and winter storms:
- Meccia et al. (2024, https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ad14b0)
- Meccia et al. (2025, https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ada3e7)
- van Westen & Baatsen (2025, already cited)
Hydroclimate:
- Saini et al. (2025, https://doi.org/10.1029/2024PA004967)
- van Westen et al. (2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-6607-2025)
Sea level:
- Volkov et al. (2023, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-40848-z)
- Howard et al. (2024, https://doi.org/10.1088/2515-7620/ad3368)
- van Westen et al. (2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-22-1353-2026)
- van Westen & Dijkstra (2024, already cited)
- Dijkstra & van Westen (2024, https://doi.org/10.16993/tellusa.3246)
- Portmann et al. (2026, https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adx4298)