Past terrestrial hydroclimate sensitivity controlled by Earth system feedbacks

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, Chuncheng Guo, Xiangyu Li, Gerrit Lohmann, Christian Stepanek, Ning Tan, Qiong Zhang, Zhongshi Zhang, Zixuan Han, Charles J. R. Williams, Daniel J. Lunt, Harry J. Dowsett, Deepak Chandan and W. Richard Peltier
Additional contact information
Ran Feng: University of Connecticut
Tripti Bhattacharya: Syracuse University
Bette L. Otto-Bliesner: Climate and Global Dynamics Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research
Esther C. Brady: Climate and Global Dynamics Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research
Alan M. Haywood: University of Leeds, Woodhouse Lane
Julia C. Tindall: University of Leeds, Woodhouse Lane
Stephen J. Hunter: University of Leeds, Woodhouse Lane
Ayako Abe-Ouchi: University of Tokyo
Wing-Le Chan: University of Tokyo
Masa Kageyama: Université Paris-Saclay
Camille Contoux: Université Paris-Saclay
Chuncheng Guo: NORCE Norwegian Research Centre, Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research
Xiangyu Li: China University of Geoscience
Gerrit Lohmann: Alfred Wegener Institute-Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research
Christian Stepanek: Alfred Wegener Institute-Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research
Ning Tan: Key Laboratory of Cenozoic Geology and Environment, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Qiong Zhang: Stockholm University
Zhongshi Zhang: China University of Geoscience
Zixuan Han: Hohai University
Charles J. R. Williams: University of Bristol, University Road
Daniel J. Lunt: University of Bristol, University Road
Harry J. Dowsett: Florence Bascom Geoscience Center, U. S. Geological Survey
Deepak Chandan: University of Toronto
W. Richard Peltier: University of Toronto

Nature Communications, 2022, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract Despite tectonic conditions and atmospheric CO2 levels (pCO2) similar to those of present-day, geological reconstructions from the mid-Pliocene (3.3-3.0 Ma) document high lake levels in the Sahel and mesic conditions in subtropical Eurasia, suggesting drastic reorganizations of subtropical terrestrial hydroclimate during this interval. Here, using a compilation of proxy data and multi-model paleoclimate simulations, we show that the mid-Pliocene hydroclimate state is not driven by direct CO2 radiative forcing but by a loss of northern high-latitude ice sheets and continental greening. These ice sheet and vegetation changes are long-term Earth system feedbacks to elevated pCO2. Further, the moist conditions in the Sahel and subtropical Eurasia during the mid-Pliocene are a product of enhanced tropospheric humidity and a stationary wave response to the surface warming pattern, which varies strongly with land cover changes. These findings highlight the potential for amplified terrestrial hydroclimate responses over long timescales to a sustained CO2 forcing.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-28814-7

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