Back to the future: Using long-term observational and paleo-proxy reconstructions to improve model projections of antarctic climate

Thomas J. Bracegirdle*, Florence Colleoni, Nerilie J. Abram, Nancy A.N. Bertler, Daniel A. Dixon, Mark England, Vincent Favier, Chris J. Fogwill, John C. Fyfe, Ian Goodwin, Hugues Goosse, Will Hobbs, Julie M. Jones, Elizabeth D. Keller, Alia L. Khan, Steven J. Phipps, Marilyn N. Raphael, Joellen Russell, Louise Sime, Elizabeth R. ThomasMichiel R. van den Broeke, Ilana Wainer

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

Abstract

Quantitative estimates of future Antarctic climate change are derived from numerical global climate models. Evaluation of the reliability of climate model projections involves many lines of evidence on past performance combined with knowledge of the processes that need to be represented. Routine model evaluation is mainly based on the modern observational period, which started with the establishment of a network of Antarctic weather stations in 1957/58. This period is too short to evaluate many fundamental aspects of the Antarctic and Southern Ocean climate system, such as decadal-to-century time-scale climate variability and trends. To help address this gap, we present a new evaluation of potential ways in which long-term observational and paleo-proxy reconstructions may be used, with a particular focus on improving projections. A wide range of data sources and time periods is included, ranging from ship observations of the early 20thcentury to ice core records spanning hundreds to hundreds of thousands of years to sediment records dating back 34 million years. We conclude that paleo-proxy records and long-term observational datasets are an underused resource in terms of strategies for improving Antarctic climate projections for the 21stcentury and beyond. We identify priorities and suggest next steps to addressing this.

Original languageEnglish
Article number255
JournalGeosciences (Switzerland)
Volume9
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2019

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Earth and Planetary Sciences

Keywords

  • Antarctic
  • Climate
  • CMIP
  • Paleoclimate
  • PMIP
  • Projections
  • Southern Ocean

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