Pliocene global climate evolution
Pliocene - pre-industrial surface temperature difference
Image source - pastglobalchanges.org, adapted from
Haywood et al., (2013).
During the Pliocene Epoch (5.33-2.58 million years ago), Earth's climate transitioned from warmer than present conditions to colder glacial conditions, with the expansion of bipolar ice sheets following the M2 glaciation (3.3 Myr). The warmer Early Pliocene (before 3.6 Myr) and the Mid Pliocene (3.3-3.0 Myr) interglacial periods are considered 'imperfect' analogs for Earth's future climate, due to largely similar-to-present continental configuration, higher than modern greenhouse gas concentrations and global sea level.
Global hydroclimate evolution through Pliocene glaciations
In an ongoing project in collaboration with Dr. David Hutchinson (UNSW, Australia) and Dr. Michael Byrne (University of St. Andrews, UK), I am investigating the impact of Pliocene glaciations on global hydroclimate evolution. This project involves the analysis of paleoclimate proxy data across all major ocean basins and continents, climate model simulations for the Pliocene, and results from pre-industrial and future climate simulations.
A map showing the Pliocene topography and bathymetry used in the model simulations (PRISM4 boundary conditions)