Impact of vegetation feedback on the mid-Pliocene warm climate

Abstract

Studying the vegetation feedback during warm periods of the past can lead to better understanding of those in the future. In this study, we conducted several simulations to analyze vegetation feedback during the mid-Pliocene warm period. The results indicate that the main features of vegetation change in the mid-Pliocene were a northward shift of needleleaf tree, an expansion of broadleaf tree and shrub, and a northward expansion of grass, as compared to the pre-industrial period. The global annual mean warming ratio caused by vegetation feedback was 12.1%, and this warming ratio was much larger in northern middle and high latitudes. The warming caused by vegetation change was directly related to the surface albedo change and was further amplified by snow/sea ice-albedo feedback.