The study uses a research model to show how past geologic periods can help us understand future climate changes.
Past climates are relevant for understanding how high greenhouse gas levels affect key elements of the climate system. The importance of reconstructing and simulating past climates has been highlighted by Dr. Ford.
Climate scientists use a few hundred years of historic weather records to build models. Climate models are used around the world to assess impacts of greenhouse gas emissions.
The deep ocean doesn't give enough time to balance with climate settings, so her studies focus more on "paleo-climates."
The mid-Pliocene warm period, a time when global temperatures were 2.3C warmer than today, was used as an example for future climate change in this new paper.
The climate model that was run for 2,000 years allowed conditions in the deep ocean to balance over time and give much deeper insight. "Running global climate models for thousands of years is expensive but critical in thinking about long-term impacts of carbon cycling and climate change."
The research team was surprised to find deep water formation in the North Pacific at this time, suggesting the warm period may have impacted the ocean's ability to store carbon.
While most studies focus on conditions at the sea surface, it's also important to look at changes in the deep ocean, as these will affect sea surface conditions. If a deep water mass forms in the North Pacific, it will prevent that area from storing carbon, which will have consequences for the global carbon cycle.
More information: H. L. Ford et al, Sustained mid-Pliocene warmth led to deep water formation in the North Pacific, Nature Geoscience (2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41561-022-00978-3. www.nature.com/articles/s41561-022-00978-3 Journal information: Nature Geoscience
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