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  • The penultimate deglaciation: protocol for Paleoclimate Modelling Intercomparison Project (PMIP) phase 4 transient numerical simulations between 140 and 127 ka, version 1.0
Title: The penultimate deglaciation: protocol for Paleoclimate Modelling Intercomparison Project (PMIP) phase 4 transient numerical simulations between 140 and 127 ka, version 1.0
Abstract. The penultimate deglaciation (PDG, ∼138–128 thousand years before present, hereafter ka) is the transition fromthe penultimate glacial maximum (PGM)to the Last Interglacial (LIG, ∼129–116 ka).The LIG stands out as one of the warmest interglacials of the last 800 000 years (hereafter kyr),with high-latitude temperature warmer than today and global sea level likely higher by at least 6 m.Considering the transient nature of the Earth system,the LIG climate and ice-sheet evolution were certainly influenced by the changesoccurring during the penultimate deglaciation.It is thus importantto investigate, with coupled atmosphere–ocean general circulation models (AOGCMs),the climate and environmental response to the large changesin boundary conditions(i.e. orbital configuration, atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations, ice-sheet geometry and associated meltwater fluxes) occurring during the penultimate deglaciation. A deglaciation working group has recently been set up as part of the Paleoclimate Modelling Intercomparison Project (PMIP) phase 4, with a protocolto perform transient simulations of the last deglaciation (19–11 ka; although the protocol covers 26–0 ka).Similar to the last deglaciation, the disintegration of continental ice sheets during the penultimate deglaciation led to significant changesin the oceanic circulation during Heinrich Stadial 11 (∼136–129 ka).However, the two deglaciations bear significant differences in magnitude and temporal evolution of climate and environmental changes. Here, as part of the Past Global Changes (PAGES)-PMIP working group on Quaternary interglacials (QUIGS), we propose a protocol to perform transient simulations of the penultimate deglaciationunder the auspices of PMIP4.This design includes time-varying changes in orbital forcing, greenhouse gas concentrations, continental ice sheets as well as freshwater input from the disintegration ofcontinental ice sheets.This experiment is designed for AOGCMs to assessthe coupled response of the climate system to all forcings.Additional sensitivity experiments are proposed to evaluate the response to each forcing.Finally, a selection of paleo-records representing different parts of the climate system is presented, providing an appropriatebenchmark for upcoming model–data comparisons across the penultimate deglaciation.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
1702740
PAR ID:
10318714
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Geoscientific Model Development
Volume:
12
Issue:
8
ISSN:
1991-9603
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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