We use a three-box Stommel model not only to study the expected trajectory of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), but also to determine the mechanisms underlying Dansgaard-Oeschger (D-O) cycles. By constructing this enhanced model framework, we demonstrate that the inclusion of a third-box accounting for global freshwater influences potentially accelerates the AMOC collapse timeline compared to conventional two-box model predictions. Regarding D-O cycles, our analysis identifies multidecadal variability in AMOC dynamics and the polar see-saw hypothesis (where hemispheric glaciation/destruction requires prolonged temporal lag to manifest reciprocal effects) as primary mechanisms. Through temporal lag implementation in our three-box model, we successfully reproduced characteristic D-O cycle patterns, proposing a novel explanatory framework for these paleoclimatic oscillations. This modeling approach bridges freshwater forcing, AMOC instability, and abrupt climate transitions during glacial periods.
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