Publication Abstracts

Zhang et al. 2013

Zhang, Z.-S., K.H. Nisancioglu, M.A. Chandler, A.M. Haywood, B.L. Otto-Bliesner, G. Ramstein, C. Stepanek, A. Abe-Ouchi, W.-L. Chan, F.J. Bragg, C. Contoux, A.M. Dolan, D.J. Hill, A. Jost, Y. Kamae, G. Lohmann, D.J. Lunt, N.A. Rosenbloom, L.E. Sohl, and H. Ueda, 2013: Mid-Pliocene Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation not unlike modern. Clim. Past, 9, 1495-1504, doi:10.5194/cp-9-1495-2013.

In the Pliocene Model Intercomparison Project (PlioMIP), eight state-of-the-art coupled climate models have simulated the mid-Pliocene warm period (mPWP, 3.264 to 3.025 Ma). Here, we compare the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), northward ocean heat transport and ocean stratification simulated with these models. None of the models participating in PlioMIP simulates a strong mid-Pliocene AMOC as suggested by earlier proxy studies. Rather, there is no consistent increase in AMOC maximum among the PlioMIP models. The only consistent change in AMOC is a shoaling of the overturning cell in the Atlantic, and a reduced influence of North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW) at depth in the basin. Furthermore, the simulated mid-Pliocene Atlantic northward heat transport is similar to the pre-industrial. These simulations demonstrate that the reconstructed high-latitude mid-Pliocene warming can not be explained as a direct response to an intensification of AMOC and concomitant increase in northward ocean heat transport by the Atlantic.

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BibTeX Citation

@article{zh09100r,
  author={Zhang, Z.-S. and Nisancioglu, K. H. and Chandler, M. A. and Haywood, A. M. and Otto-Bliesner, B. L. and Ramstein, G. and Stepanek, C. and Abe-Ouchi, A. and Chan, W.-L. and Bragg, F. J. and Contoux, C. and Dolan, A. M. and Hill, D. J. and Jost, A. and Kamae, Y. and Lohmann, G. and Lunt, D. J. and Rosenbloom, N. A. and Sohl, L. E. and Ueda, H.},
  title={Mid-Pliocene Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation not unlike modern},
  year={2013},
  journal={Clim. Past},
  volume={9},
  pages={1495--1504},
  doi={10.5194/cp-9-1495-2013},
}

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RIS Citation

TY  - JOUR
ID  - zh09100r
AU  - Zhang, Z.-S.
AU  - Nisancioglu, K. H.
AU  - Chandler, M. A.
AU  - Haywood, A. M.
AU  - Otto-Bliesner, B. L.
AU  - Ramstein, G.
AU  - Stepanek, C.
AU  - Abe-Ouchi, A.
AU  - Chan, W.-L.
AU  - Bragg, F. J.
AU  - Contoux, C.
AU  - Dolan, A. M.
AU  - Hill, D. J.
AU  - Jost, A.
AU  - Kamae, Y.
AU  - Lohmann, G.
AU  - Lunt, D. J.
AU  - Rosenbloom, N. A.
AU  - Sohl, L. E.
AU  - Ueda, H.
PY  - 2013
TI  - Mid-Pliocene Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation not unlike modern
JA  - Clim. Past
VL  - 9
SP  - 1495
EP  - 1504
DO  - 10.5194/cp-9-1495-2013
ER  -

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