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  4. Pliocene Model Intercomparison Project Phase 3 (PlioMIP3)

Research project

Pliocene Model Intercomparison Project Phase 3 (PlioMIP3)

  • Start date: 1 November 2023
  • End date: 1 January 2030
  • Partners and collaborators: Alfred Wegener Institute, Durham University, NASA-GISS, NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research, NORCE Research Climate, Northumbria University, Peking University, Beijing, University of Adelaide, University of Bristol, University of Connecticut, University of New South Wales, University of Stockholm, University of Tokyo, USGS, Utrecht University
  • Primary investigator: Professor Alan Haywood
  • External primary investigator: Harry Dowsett (U.S. Geological Survey)
  • Co-investigators: Dr Julia Tindall, Dr Daniel Hill
  • External co-investigators: Ran Feng - University of Connecticut | Professor Ulrich Salzmann - Northumbria University | Bette Otto-Bliesner - National Centre for Atmospheric Research | Professor Dan Lunt - University of Bristol | Abe-Ouchi Ayako - University of Tokyo | Tamara Fletcher - The University of Adelaide | Zhongshi Zhang - Peking University | Christian Stepanek - Alfred Wegener Institute | Qiong Zhang – Stokholm University | Petra Langebroek – NORCE research – climate | Linda Sohl – NASA GISS | Laurie Menviel – University of New South Wales | Erin Mcclymont – University of Durham
  • Postgraduate researchers: Abigail Buchan

PlioMIP3 logo purple and orange with black writing

The Pliocene Model Intercomparison Project (PlioMIP) is a coordinated international modelling initiative focused on the Pliocene climate (5.33-2.58Ma), and its potential relevance in the context of future climate change. PlioMIP operates under the umbrella of the Palaeoclimate Modelling Intercomparison Project (PMIP), which examines multiple intervals in Earth history, the consistency of model predictions in simulating these intervals and their ability to reproduce geological climate archives.

The PlioMIP project was initiated in 2008 and the first two phases (PlioMIP and PlioMIP2) focused on a time in the Late Pliocene when atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) was comparable to present day levels. The previous phase, PlioMIP2, used 17 models along with paleodata to explore how a warm climate of the past differed from today (https://cp.copernicus.org/articles/special_issue642.html). It also considered similarities and differences between modelling studies and paleodata and whether the models can reproduce signals seen in Pliocene aged paleodata. For the third phase, PlioMIP3, the project builds upon the successes of previous phases while introducing new research components to explore uncertainties in the Pliocene climate. The Pliocene spanned millions of years, hence different times in the Pliocene would have experienced different CO2 concentrations, orbital configurations and vegetation patterns. PlioMIP3 will explore how some of these uncertainties could affect the modelled representation of the Pliocene climate.

Also included in PlioMIP3 are experiments to explore some uncertainties in ocean gateways and the extent of the East Antarctic ice sheet. Finally, for the first time, PlioMIP3 includes an Early Pliocene experiment to further explore the Pliocene climate system and understand some transient signals seen in paleodata. PlioMIP3 will therefore draw together the paleoclimate modelling and data communities to inform about a warm climate of the past and explore how this can help our understanding of the future.

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Key Papers

Pliocene Model Intercomparison Project Phase 3 (PlioMIP3) – Science plan and experimental design

Early Pliocene (Zanclean) stratigraphic framework for PRISM5/PlioMIP3 time slices

PlioMIP3 special issue

Modelling Resources

Pliocene Model Intercomparison Project Phase 3 (PlioMIP3) Data Distribution

PlioMIP3 list of output variables