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Patterns and mechanisms of early Pliocene warmth

Author

Listed:
  • A. V. Fedorov

    (Yale University)

  • C. M. Brierley

    (Yale University
    University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK)

  • K. T. Lawrence

    (Lafayette College)

  • Z. Liu

    (The University of Hong Kong)

  • P. S. Dekens

    (San Francisco State University)

  • A. C. Ravelo

    (University of California)

Abstract

About five to four million years ago, in the early Pliocene epoch, Earth had a warm, temperate climate. The gradual cooling that followed led to the establishment of modern temperature patterns, possibly in response to a decrease in atmospheric CO2 concentration, of the order of 100 parts per million, towards preindustrial values. Here we synthesize the available geochemical proxy records of sea surface temperature and show that, compared with that of today, the early Pliocene climate had substantially lower meridional and zonal temperature gradients but similar maximum ocean temperatures. Using an Earth system model, we show that none of the mechanisms currently proposed to explain Pliocene warmth can simultaneously reproduce all three crucial features. We suggest that a combination of several dynamical feedbacks underestimated in the models at present, such as those related to ocean mixing and cloud albedo, may have been responsible for these climate conditions.

Suggested Citation

  • A. V. Fedorov & C. M. Brierley & K. T. Lawrence & Z. Liu & P. S. Dekens & A. C. Ravelo, 2013. "Patterns and mechanisms of early Pliocene warmth," Nature, Nature, vol. 496(7443), pages 43-49, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:496:y:2013:i:7443:d:10.1038_nature12003
    DOI: 10.1038/nature12003
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    Cited by:

    1. Joshua D. Bridges & John A. Tarduno & Rory D. Cottrell & Timothy D. Herbert, 2023. "Rapid strengthening of westerlies accompanied intensification of Northern Hemisphere glaciation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    2. Ran Feng & Tripti Bhattacharya & Bette L. Otto-Bliesner & Esther C. Brady & Alan M. Haywood & Julia C. Tindall & Stephen J. Hunter & Ayako Abe-Ouchi & Wing-Le Chan & Masa Kageyama & Camille Contoux & , 2022. "Past terrestrial hydroclimate sensitivity controlled by Earth system feedbacks," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-11, December.
    3. G. Burch Fisher & Lisa V. Luna & William H. Amidon & Douglas W. Burbank & Bas Boer & Lennert B. Stap & Bodo Bookhagen & Vincent Godard & Michael E. Oskin & Ricardo N. Alonso & Erik Tuenter & Lucas J. , 2023. "Milankovitch-paced erosion in the southern Central Andes," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-15, December.

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