Model description paper
25 Apr 2012
Model description paper | 25 Apr 2012
Pre-industrial and mid-Pliocene simulations with NorESM-L
Z. S. Zhang1,2,3, K. Nisancioglu1,2, M. Bentsen1,2, J. Tjiputra1,2, I. Bethke1,2, Q. Yan3, B. Risebrobakken1,2, C. Andersson1,2, and E. Jansen1,2
Z. S. Zhang et al.
Z. S. Zhang1,2,3, K. Nisancioglu1,2, M. Bentsen1,2, J. Tjiputra1,2, I. Bethke1,2, Q. Yan3, B. Risebrobakken1,2, C. Andersson1,2, and E. Jansen1,2
- 1Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research, Allegaten 55, 5007, Bergen, Norway
- 2UNI Research, Allegaten 55, 5007, Bergen, Norway
- 3Nansen-Zhu International Research Center, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100029, Beijing, China
- 1Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research, Allegaten 55, 5007, Bergen, Norway
- 2UNI Research, Allegaten 55, 5007, Bergen, Norway
- 3Nansen-Zhu International Research Center, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100029, Beijing, China
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Received: 20 Dec 2011 – Discussion started: 13 Jan 2012 – Revised: 03 Apr 2012 – Accepted: 03 Apr 2012 – Published: 25 Apr 2012
Abstract. The mid-Pliocene period (3.3 to 3.0 Ma) is known as a warm climate with atmospheric greenhouse gas levels similar to the present. As the climate at this time was in equilibrium with the greenhouse forcing, it is a valuable test case to better understand the long-term response to high levels of atmospheric greenhouse gases. In this study, we use the low resolution version of the Norwegian Earth System Model (NorESM-L) to simulate the pre-industrial and the mid-Pliocene climate. Comparison of the simulation with observations demonstrates that NorESM-L simulates a realistic pre-industrial climate. The simulated mid-Pliocene global mean surface air temperature is 16.7 °C, which is 3.2 °C warmer than the pre-industrial. The simulated mid-Pliocene global mean sea surface temperature is 19.1 °C, which is 2.0 °C warmer than the pre-industrial. The warming is relatively uniform globally, except for a strong amplification at high latitudes.
