npj Climate and Atmospheric Science (Jun 2024)
Decomposition of physical processes controlling EASM precipitation changes during the mid-Piacenzian: new insights into data–model integration
- Yong Sun,
- Haibin Wu,
- Lin Ding,
- Lixin Chen,
- Christian Stepanek,
- Yan Zhao,
- Ning Tan,
- Baohuang Su,
- Xiayu Yuan,
- Wenchao Zhang,
- Bo Liu,
- Stephen Hunter,
- Alan Haywood,
- Ayako Abe-Ouchi,
- Bette Otto-Bliesner,
- Camille Contoux,
- Daniel J. Lunt,
- Aisling Dolan,
- Deepak Chandan,
- Gerrit Lohmann,
- Harry Dowsett,
- Julia Tindall,
- Michiel Baatsen,
- W. Richard Peltier,
- Qiang Li,
- Ran Feng,
- Ulrich Salzmann,
- Wing-Le Chan,
- Zhongshi Zhang,
- Charles J. R. Williams,
- Gilles Ramstein
Affiliations
- Yong Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System, Environment and Resources (TPESER), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Haibin Wu
- Key Laboratory of Cenozoic Geology and Environment, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Lin Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System, Environment and Resources (TPESER), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Lixin Chen
- Key Laboratory of Cenozoic Geology and Environment, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Christian Stepanek
- Alfred-Wegener-Institut - Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar und Meeresforschung
- Yan Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System, Environment and Resources (TPESER), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Ning Tan
- Key Laboratory of Cenozoic Geology and Environment, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Baohuang Su
- State Key Laboratory of Severe Weather, and Institute of Tibetan Plateau Meteorology, Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences
- Xiayu Yuan
- Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Wenchao Zhang
- School of Earth Sciences and Resources, China University of Geosciences (Beijing)
- Bo Liu
- Department of Atmospheric Science, School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geoscience
- Stephen Hunter
- School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds
- Alan Haywood
- School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds
- Ayako Abe-Ouchi
- Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, University of Tokyo
- Bette Otto-Bliesner
- Climate and Global Dynamics Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research, (NCAR)
- Camille Contoux
- Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l’Environnement, LSCE/IPSL, CEA‐CNRS‐UVSQ, Université Paris‐Saclay
- Daniel J. Lunt
- School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol
- Aisling Dolan
- School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds
- Deepak Chandan
- Department of Physics, University of Toronto
- Gerrit Lohmann
- Alfred-Wegener-Institut - Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar und Meeresforschung
- Harry Dowsett
- U.S. Geological Survey, 926 A National Center
- Julia Tindall
- School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds
- Michiel Baatsen
- Institute for Marine and Atmospheric research Utrecht (IMAU), Department of Physics, Utrecht University
- W. Richard Peltier
- Department of Physics, University of Toronto
- Qiang Li
- Department of Physical Geography, Stockholm University
- Ran Feng
- Department of Geosciences, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Connecticut
- Ulrich Salzmann
- Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Northumbria University
- Wing-Le Chan
- Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, University of Tokyo
- Zhongshi Zhang
- Department of Atmospheric Science, School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geoscience
- Charles J. R. Williams
- School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol
- Gilles Ramstein
- Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l’Environnement, LSCE/IPSL, CEA‐CNRS‐UVSQ, Université Paris‐Saclay
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41612-024-00668-4
- Journal volume & issue
-
Vol. 7,
no. 1
pp. 1 – 10
Abstract
Abstract The mid-Piacenzian warm period (MPWP, ~3.264–3.025 Ma) has gained widespread interest due to its partial analogy with future climate. However, quantitative data–model comparison of East Asian Summer Monsoon (EASM) precipitation during the MPWP is relatively rare, especially due to problems in decoding the imprint of physical processes to climate signals in the records. In this study, pollen-based precipitation records are reconstructed and compared to the multi-model ensemble mean of the Pliocene Model Intercomparison Project Phase 2 (PlioMIP2). We find spatially consistent precipitation increase in most simulations but a spatially divergent change in MPWP records. We reconcile proxy data and simulation by decomposing physical processes that control precipitation. Our results 1) reveal thermodynamic control of an overall enhancement of EASM precipitation and 2) highlight a distinct control of thermodynamic and dynamical processes on increases of tropical and subtropical EASM precipitation, reflecting the two pathways of water vapor supply that enhance EASM precipitation, respectively.
