Using results from the PlioMIP ensemble to investigate the Greenland Ice Sheet during the mid-Pliocene Warm Period

• DOI: 10.5194/cp-11-403-2015
• Publication Date: 2015-03-05T16:59:30Z
• Authors: A. M. Dolan; S. J. Hunter; D. J. Hill; A. M. Haywood; S. J. Koenig; B. L. Otto-Bliesner; A. Abe-Ouchi; F. Bragg; W.-L. Chan; M. A. Chandler; C. Contoux; A. Jost; Y. Kamae; G. Lohmann; D. J. Lunt; G. Ramstein; N. A. Rosenbloom; L. Sohl; C. Stepanek; H. Ueda; Q. Yan; Z. Zhang
• Keywords: Ice-sheet model; Greenland ice sheet; Antarctic ice sheet; Future sea level; Forcing (mathematics)

Abstract. During an interval of the Late Pliocene, referred to here as mid-Pliocene Warm Period (mPWP; 3.264 3.025 million years ago), global mean temperature was similar that predicted for end this century, and atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations were higher than pre-industrial levels. Sea level also today, implying a significant reduction in extent ice sheets. Thus, mPWP provides natural laboratory which investigate long-term response Earth's sheets sea warmer-than-present-day world. At present, our understanding Greenland sheet during is generally based upon predictions using single climate models. Therefore, it essential model dependency these results assessed. The Pliocene Model Intercomparison Project (PlioMIP) has brought together nine international modelling groups simulate warm Pliocene. Here we use climatological fields derived from 15 PlioMIP models force offline model. We show reconstructions are highly dependent forcing climatology used, with ranging ice-free state near-modern sheet. An analysis surface albedo variability between over offers insights into drivers inter-model differences. As demonstrate high, highlight necessity data-based constraints developing