Abstract
Abstract. The mid-Pliocene warm period ~3.264 to 3.025 Ma) is a potential analogue for future climate under global warming. In this study, we use an atmospheric general circulation model (AGCM) called CAM3.1 to simulate the mid-Pliocene climate with the PRISM3D boundary conditions. The simulations show that the global annual mean surface air temperature (SAT) increases by 2.0 °C in the mid-Pliocene compared with the pre-industrial temperature. The greatest warming occurs at high latitudes of both hemispheres, with little change in SAT at low latitudes. The equator-to-pole SAT gradient is reduced in the mid-Pliocene simulation. The annual mean precipitation is enhanced by 3.6% of the pre-industrial value. However, the changes in precipitation are greater at low latitudes than at high latitudes.
Highlights
Mid-Pliocene, spanning from 3.264 to 3.025 Ma (Dowsett et al, 2010), was the most recent period with sustained warmth during Earth’s history
The results show that the annual mean net energy at the top of the atmosphere is 1.2 W m−2 and 4.1 W m−2 in the pre-industrial and mid-Pliocene experiments, respectively
In this study, using atmospheric general circulation model (AGCM) CAM3.1, we simulate the midPliocene climate with the prescribed PRISM3D boundary conditions
Summary
Mid-Pliocene, spanning from 3.264 to 3.025 Ma (Dowsett et al, 2010), was the most recent period with sustained warmth during Earth’s history. This period has been a focus of data synthesis The period has been characterized as having an increased sea surface temperature (SST) in mid-high latitudes resulting in seasonally ice-free conditions, greatly reduced ice sheets leading to a sea level rise of 25 m, and an obvious expansion of warmth/moisture loving vegetation in the northern high latitudes (Dowsett et al, 2010). Mid-Pliocene provides a chance to assess the reliability of climate models for projecting future climates. Understanding the climate of the mid-Pliocene offers the potential for us to understand the future climate change better
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