Evaluation of coupled ocean-atmosphere simulations of the mid-Holocene using palaeovegetation data from the northern hemisphere extratropics

We have used the BIOME4 biogeography-biochemistry model and comparison with palaeovegetation data to evaluate the response of six ocean-atmosphere general circulation models to mid-Holocene changes in orbital forcing in the mid- to high-latitudes of the northern hemisphere. All the models produce: (...

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Published in:Climate Dynamics
Other Authors: Wohlfahrt, J. (author), Harrison, S. (author), Braconnot, P. (author), Hewitt, C. (author), Kitoh, A. (author), Mikolajewica, U. (author), Otto-Bliesner, Bette (author), Weber, S. (author)
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Springer 2008
Subjects:
Online Access:http://nldr.library.ucar.edu/repository/collections/OSGC-000-000-002-591
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-008-0415-5
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spelling ftncar:oai:drupal-site.org:articles_6321 2023-10-01T03:59:48+02:00 Evaluation of coupled ocean-atmosphere simulations of the mid-Holocene using palaeovegetation data from the northern hemisphere extratropics Wohlfahrt, J. (author) Harrison, S. (author) Braconnot, P. (author) Hewitt, C. (author) Kitoh, A. (author) Mikolajewica, U. (author) Otto-Bliesner, Bette (author) Weber, S. (author) 2008-12-01 application/pdf http://nldr.library.ucar.edu/repository/collections/OSGC-000-000-002-591 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-008-0415-5 en eng Springer Climate Dynamics http://nldr.library.ucar.edu/repository/collections/OSGC-000-000-002-591 doi:10.1007/s00382-008-0415-5 ark:/85065/d7nv9jfh Copyright 2008 Authors. Mid-Holocene Extratropical climates Climate model evaluation Ocean feedback Tundra-taiga boundary Mid-continental aridity Data-model comparisons Pollen reconstructions of vegetation Text article 2008 ftncar https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-008-0415-5 2023-09-04T18:28:02Z We have used the BIOME4 biogeography-biochemistry model and comparison with palaeovegetation data to evaluate the response of six ocean-atmosphere general circulation models to mid-Holocene changes in orbital forcing in the mid- to high-latitudes of the northern hemisphere. All the models produce: (a) a northward shift of the northern limit of boreal forest, in response to simulated summer warming in high-latitudes. The northward shift is markedly asymmetric, with larger shifts in Eurasia than in North America; (b) an expansion of xerophytic vegetation in mid-continental North America and Eurasia, in response to increased temperatures during the growing season; (c) a northward expansion of temperate forests in eastern North America, in response to simulated winter warming. The northward shift of the northern limit of boreal forest and the northward expansion of temperate forests in North America are supported by palaeovegetation data. The expansion of xerophytic vegetation in mid-continental North America is consistent with palaeodata, although the extent may be over-estimated. The simulated expansion of xerophytic vegetation in Eurasia is not supported by the data. Analysis of an asynchronous coupling of one model to an equilibrium-vegetation model suggests vegetation feedback exacerbates this mid-continental drying and produces conditions more unlike the observations. Not all features of the simulations are robust: some models produce winter warming over Europe while others produce winter cooling. As a result, some models show a northward shift of temperate forests (consistent with, though less marked than, the expansion shown by data) and others produce a reduction in temperate forests. Elucidation of the cause of such differences is a focus of the current phase of the Palaeoclimate Modelling Intercomparison Project. Article in Journal/Newspaper taiga Tundra OpenSky (NCAR/UCAR - National Center for Atmospheric Research/University Corporation for Atmospheric Research) Climate Dynamics 31 7-8 871 890
institution Open Polar
collection OpenSky (NCAR/UCAR - National Center for Atmospheric Research/University Corporation for Atmospheric Research)
op_collection_id ftncar
language English
topic Mid-Holocene
Extratropical climates
Climate model evaluation
Ocean feedback
Tundra-taiga boundary
Mid-continental aridity
Data-model comparisons
Pollen reconstructions of vegetation
spellingShingle Mid-Holocene
Extratropical climates
Climate model evaluation
Ocean feedback
Tundra-taiga boundary
Mid-continental aridity
Data-model comparisons
Pollen reconstructions of vegetation
Evaluation of coupled ocean-atmosphere simulations of the mid-Holocene using palaeovegetation data from the northern hemisphere extratropics
topic_facet Mid-Holocene
Extratropical climates
Climate model evaluation
Ocean feedback
Tundra-taiga boundary
Mid-continental aridity
Data-model comparisons
Pollen reconstructions of vegetation
description We have used the BIOME4 biogeography-biochemistry model and comparison with palaeovegetation data to evaluate the response of six ocean-atmosphere general circulation models to mid-Holocene changes in orbital forcing in the mid- to high-latitudes of the northern hemisphere. All the models produce: (a) a northward shift of the northern limit of boreal forest, in response to simulated summer warming in high-latitudes. The northward shift is markedly asymmetric, with larger shifts in Eurasia than in North America; (b) an expansion of xerophytic vegetation in mid-continental North America and Eurasia, in response to increased temperatures during the growing season; (c) a northward expansion of temperate forests in eastern North America, in response to simulated winter warming. The northward shift of the northern limit of boreal forest and the northward expansion of temperate forests in North America are supported by palaeovegetation data. The expansion of xerophytic vegetation in mid-continental North America is consistent with palaeodata, although the extent may be over-estimated. The simulated expansion of xerophytic vegetation in Eurasia is not supported by the data. Analysis of an asynchronous coupling of one model to an equilibrium-vegetation model suggests vegetation feedback exacerbates this mid-continental drying and produces conditions more unlike the observations. Not all features of the simulations are robust: some models produce winter warming over Europe while others produce winter cooling. As a result, some models show a northward shift of temperate forests (consistent with, though less marked than, the expansion shown by data) and others produce a reduction in temperate forests. Elucidation of the cause of such differences is a focus of the current phase of the Palaeoclimate Modelling Intercomparison Project.
author2 Wohlfahrt, J. (author)
Harrison, S. (author)
Braconnot, P. (author)
Hewitt, C. (author)
Kitoh, A. (author)
Mikolajewica, U. (author)
Otto-Bliesner, Bette (author)
Weber, S. (author)
format Article in Journal/Newspaper
title Evaluation of coupled ocean-atmosphere simulations of the mid-Holocene using palaeovegetation data from the northern hemisphere extratropics
title_short Evaluation of coupled ocean-atmosphere simulations of the mid-Holocene using palaeovegetation data from the northern hemisphere extratropics
title_full Evaluation of coupled ocean-atmosphere simulations of the mid-Holocene using palaeovegetation data from the northern hemisphere extratropics
title_fullStr Evaluation of coupled ocean-atmosphere simulations of the mid-Holocene using palaeovegetation data from the northern hemisphere extratropics
title_full_unstemmed Evaluation of coupled ocean-atmosphere simulations of the mid-Holocene using palaeovegetation data from the northern hemisphere extratropics
title_sort evaluation of coupled ocean-atmosphere simulations of the mid-holocene using palaeovegetation data from the northern hemisphere extratropics
publisher Springer
publishDate 2008
url http://nldr.library.ucar.edu/repository/collections/OSGC-000-000-002-591
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-008-0415-5
genre taiga
Tundra
genre_facet taiga
Tundra
op_relation Climate Dynamics
http://nldr.library.ucar.edu/repository/collections/OSGC-000-000-002-591
doi:10.1007/s00382-008-0415-5
ark:/85065/d7nv9jfh
op_rights Copyright 2008 Authors.
op_doi https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-008-0415-5
container_title Climate Dynamics
container_volume 31
container_issue 7-8
container_start_page 871
op_container_end_page 890
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