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Pliocene Model Intercomparison Project: implementation strategy and mid-Pliocene Global climatology using GENESIS v3.0 GCM
S. J. Koenig1, R. M. DeConto1, and D. Pollard2
1Department of Geosciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 611 N. Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
2Earth and Environmental Systems Institute, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, 2217 Earth-Engineering Sciences Bldg., University Park, PA 16802, USA
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Abstract. The mid-Pliocene Warm Period (3.29 to 2.97 Ma BP) has been identified as an
analogue for the future, with the potential to help understand climate
processes in a warmer than modern world. Sets of climate proxies, combined to
provide boundary conditions for Global Climate Model (GCM) simulations of the
mid-Pliocene, form the basis for the international, data-driven Pliocene
Model Intercomparison Project (PlioMIP). Here, we outline the strategy for
implementing pre-industrial (modern) and mid-Pliocene forcings and boundary
conditions into the GENESIS version 3 GCM, as part of PlioMIP. We describe
the prescription of greenhouse gas concentrations and orbital parameters and
the implementation of geographic boundary conditions such as land-ice-sea
distribution, topography, sea surface temperatures, sea ice extent,
vegetation, soils, and ice sheets. We further describe model-specific details
including spin-up and integration times. In addition, the global climatology
of the mid-Pliocene as simulated by the GENESIS v3 GCM is analyzed and
compared to the pre-industrial control simulation. The simulated climate of
the mid-Pliocene warm interval is found to differ considerably from
pre-industrial. We identify model sensitivity to imposed forcings, and
internal feedbacks that collectively affect both local and far-field
responses. Our analysis points out the need to assess both the direct impacts
of external forcings and the combined effects of indirect, internal
feedbacks. This paper provides the basis for assessing model biases within
the PlioMIP framework, and will be useful for comparisons with other studies
of mid-Pliocene climates.
 Notice on Discussion StatusThe requested discussion paper has a corresponding peer-reviewed
final revised paper in the journal Geoscientific Model Development (GMD). You are
encouraged to refer to the final revised version. Final Revised Paper (GMD) Discussion Paper (PDF, 5038 KB)
Citation: Koenig, S. J., DeConto, R. M., and Pollard, D.: Pliocene Model Intercomparison Project: implementation strategy and mid-Pliocene Global climatology using GENESIS v3.0 GCM, Geosci. Model Dev. Discuss., 4, 2577-2603, doi:10.5194/gmdd-4-2577-2011, 2011. Bibtex EndNote Reference Manager XML
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