PRISM 3D: PlioMIP

PRISM3D Project

Introduction

General Circulation Models (GCMs) are routinely used to simulate and predict Earth’s past, present and future climate (e.g. IPCC, 2007). Although models broadly agree, significant differences exist in the detail of their predictions (e.g. Randall et al., 2007). Unfortunately, paleoclimate modeling studies often utilize only a single model, meaning the results obtained may be highly model-dependant. To combat this bias, the international Palaeoclimate Modelling Intercomparison Project (PMIP) was initiated to coordinate and encourage the systematic study of several GCMs and to assess their ability to simulate large changes in paleoclimate (e.g. Joussaume and Taylor, 1995). In 2007 PMIP coverage was extended beyond the Last Glacial Maximum and the mid-Holocene climatic optimum to the mid-Pliocene, a time period identified by the IPCC as a potential analogue for future climate change (Jansen et al., 2007).

The mid-Pliocene warm period has provided a focus for data synthesis and paleoclimate modeling for the last two decades (e.g. Chandler et al., 1994; Sloan et al., 1996; Dowsett et al., 1994, 1999; Haywood et al., 2000). Though numerous GCM simulations of the Pliocene have been conducted, rarely has any systematic attempt been made to conduct experiments in a fashion that would make direct comparisons possible, and our view of the mid-Pliocene world is still largely based on outputs from only a few GCMs.

Recently, a pilot intercomparison using the NASA GISS and Hadley Centre GCMs, using prescribed PRISM boundary conditions, has revealed a number of important differences in the model results, raising questions regarding both the Pliocene climate and the ability of GCMs to simulate warm climates. This pilot study serves as a springboard for the larger internationally coordinated Pliocene Paleoclimate Modeling Intercomparison Project (PlioMIP), a component of the new PMIP3 initiative. PlioMIP has multi-agency support in the U.S. and numerous participants from the international community . The project will help enable the systematic study of GCMs for a warm period in Earth history that roughly parallels climate predictions for the end of this century.

PlioMIP Modeling Groups
Group	Contact	PlioMIP Exp 1	PlioMIP Exp 2
Hadley - UK	Alan Haywood	HadAM3	HadCM3
University of New South Wales	Steven J. Phipps	CSIRO Mk3L Version 1.2	CSIRO Mk3L Version 1.2
NCAR	Bette Otto-Bliesner, Nan Rosenbloom	CAM4	CCSM4
University of Massachusetts, Amhearst	Rob DeConto	Genesis V. 3.0	?
Laboratoire de Physique Atmosphérique et Planétaire (LPAP)	Alexandra Henrot	Planet Simulator version Most 15	?
GISS	Mark Chandler	GCMAM3	GISS Model E
Bjerknes/Bergen	Kerim H. Nisancioglu	MITgcm	MITgcm
IAP/CAS	Zheng Weipeng, Zhang Zhongshi	FOAM1.5	FGOALS-g2.0, FOAM1.5
Koninklijk Nederlands Meteorologisch Instituut	Nanne Weber	EC-Earth v.2	EC-Earth v.2
Center for Climate System Research, University of Tokyo	Ayako Abe-Ouchi	MIROC 3.2 GCM	MIROC 3.2 GCM
Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research	Christian Stepanek	COSMOS 1.2.0	COSMOS 1.2.0
University of Kiel, Germany	Birgit Schneider		AOGCM KCM v1.2.2

Early in 2009 a scientific advisory panel was established to direct the PlioMIP project and to act as points of contact to provide any guidance necessary for groups interested in running PlioMIP experiments. The current composition of the PlioMIP advisory panel can be found below.

Lead (model) Alan Haywood (University of Leeds, UK)
Lead (data) Harry Dowsett (US Geological Survey, USA)
Bette Otto-Bliesner (National Center for Atmospheric Research, USA)
Mark Chandler (GISS/Columbia, New York, USA)
Daniel Lunt (University Bristol, UK)
Marci Robinson (US Geological Survey, USA)
Nan Rosenbloom (National Center for Atmospheric Research)
Technical and programming support (PlioMIP boundary conditions and web site) Kevin Foley (US Geological Survey, USA)

References

Global & Planetary Change.

Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis.

Geology

USGS Open File Report 99-535

Marine Micropaleontology

Proceedings of the first international AMIP scientific conference.

Global & Planetary Change 9,

Global and Planetary Change

Background information information useful for PlioMIP research proposals. Supplied by Haywood and Lunt.

Planned Analyses

Send an e-mail describing your related research or ideas for related research. Information on your analysis will be posted here. Include:

Title of analysis

Leader

A short description of the analysis (less than 100 words)

Proposed start and completion dates

A list of other interested participants

Input data for analysis are found here.

Results of PlioMIP research are found here.

Join a discussion of PRISM and PlioMIP topics on Google Groups or send the group a message.

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Page Last Modified: 16 November 2009