Pliocene Model Intercomparison Project Phase 3 (PlioMIP3)

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

Modelling Resources

Pliocene Model Intercomparison Project Phase 3 (PlioMIP3) Data Distribution

PlioMIP3 list of output variables