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| Titel |
Large scale features of the Pliocene climate: Results from the PlioMIP experiments |
| VerfasserIn |
A. M. Haywood, D. J. Hill, A. M. Dolan, U. Salzmann, H. J. Dowsett, M. M. Robinson, B. Otto-Bliesner, N. Rosenbloom, M. A. Chandler, D. J. Lunt, S. J. Pickering, PlioMIP Participants |
| Konferenz |
EGU General Assembly 2012
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| Medientyp |
Artikel
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| Sprache |
Englisch
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| Digitales Dokument |
PDF |
| Erschienen |
In: GRA - Volume 14 (2012) |
| Datensatznummer |
250068273
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| Zusammenfassung |
| PlioMIP (Pliocene Model Intercomparison Project) is a recent addition to the Palaeoclimate
Intercomparison Project. It represents the first time that a period with higher than
pre-industrial levels of atmospheric CO2 and global temperatures within the range predicted
for 2100AD has been subjected to rigorous model intercomparison. Currently around 8
modelling groups from around the world have completed each of the two PlioMIP
experiments. The first experiment is for atmospheric General Circulation Models (GCMs),
utilising the sea surface temperature (SST) reconstructions of the USGS PRISM group, while
the second is for coupled atmosphere-ocean GCMs.
The mid-Pliocene warm period has provided a focus for data synthesis and palaeoclimate
modelling for the last two decades. Though numerous GCM simulations of the
Pliocene have been conducted, rarely has any systematic attempt been made to
conduct experiments in a fashion that would make direct comparisons possible, and
our view of the mid-Pliocene world is still largely based on outputs from only a
few GCMs. Although palaeoclimate reconstructions and climate models give a
generally consistent picture of the Pliocene, significant regions of data-model mismatch
remain.
Here we present the first results of the project, showing the large scale features of the
mid-Pliocene climate from the PlioMIP ensemble. Particular focus is given to surface air
temperature, sea surface temperature and precipitation simulations. These results are used to
produce meridional and zonal profiles for the mid-Pliocene and as the basis for detailed
global data-model comparisons against both terrestrial and marine records. Modelled surface
air temperature data is tested against estimates from reconstructed vegetation biomes, while
the SST simulations of the atmosphere-ocean GCMs are tested against the PRISM data.
While all the models show a general Pliocene warming of comparable magnitude (~ 2 –
4°C), there are significant differences between the models in key regions. These regions also
correspond to areas of data-model mismatch and we present initial results exploring potential
causes of this mismatch. |
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