Modelling equable climates of the Late Cretaceous:Can new boundary conditions resolve data-model discrepancies?

Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) climate and vegetation is modelled using the HadCM3L fully-coupled atmosphere-ocean model and the TRIFFID dynamic vegetation model. We investigate data-model inconsistencies in the high-latitudes and continental interiors by exploring the sensitivity of modelled terre...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology
Main Authors: Hunter, S. J., Haywood, A. M., Valdes, P. J., Francis, J. E., Pound, M. J.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: 2013
Subjects:
Equable climates
HadCM3
Late Cretaceous
Maastrichtian
Arctic
albedo
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/1983/cd7b50e0-aec9-4403-8ef1-bd7ede2d4a4d
https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/en/publications/cd7b50e0-aec9-4403-8ef1-bd7ede2d4a4d
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2013.08.009
http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84884573892&partnerID=8YFLogxK
Description
Summary:Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) climate and vegetation is modelled using the HadCM3L fully-coupled atmosphere-ocean model and the TRIFFID dynamic vegetation model. We investigate data-model inconsistencies in the high-latitudes and continental interiors by exploring the sensitivity of modelled terrestrial climate to vegetation treatment, changing atmospheric pCO 2 levels and the representation of Arctic seaway connections. We expand on previous work by using millennial-scale GCM runs with dynamic vegetation to allow for improved representations of ocean heat transport and terrestrial boundary conditions.Incorporating realistic vegetation drives high-latitude warming particularly during summer through reductions in surface albedo and induced atmosphere-ocean feedbacks. Resulting regional warming can exceed 10°C. As pCO 2 rises some regions cool as deciduous to evergreen change increases albedo. Incorporating enhanced Arctic connectivity, reconfigured ocean heat transport drives widespread terrestrial warming of ~3°C and >5°C regionally. Applying sensitivities in combination significant palaeobotanical data-model inconsistencies in the northern high-latitudes and continental interiors remain. Further work is required to resolve climate and vegetation model deficiencies and improve the interpretation and geographic distribution of quantitative climate-sensitive geological proxies.

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