Pliocene Research, Interpretation and Synoptic Mapping (PRISM4) Active
PRISM will help distinguish the USGS as a world leader in paleoclimate research, data generation and delivery for use in addressing the modern world's climate-related needs. We will be recognized for the passion of our researchers and partners in providing quality, innovative paleoclimate interpretation and data analysis to the science (climate change) community and to the public we serve.
Below are USGS publications associated with this project. For a full list of PRISM related publications, CLICK HERE.
Bathymetric controls on Pliocene North Atlantic and Arctic sea surface temperature and deepwater production
Sea surface temperatures of the mid-Piacenzian Warm Period: A comparison of PRISM3 and HadCM3
Sensitivity of Pliocene ice sheets to orbital forcing
Quantifying Uncertainty in Model Predictions for the Pliocene (Plio-QUMP): Initial results
Climate change lessons from a warm world
ePRISM: A case study in multiple proxy and mixed temporal resolution integration
The PRISM3D paleoenvironmental reconstruction
Why Study Paleoclimate?
Mid-Piacensian mean annual sea surface temperature: an analysis for data-model comparisons
Earth system sensitivity inferred from Pliocene modelling and data
Pliocene climate
PRISM3/GISS Topographic Reconstruction
Below are PRISM4D collaborating institutions.
- Overview
PRISM will help distinguish the USGS as a world leader in paleoclimate research, data generation and delivery for use in addressing the modern world's climate-related needs. We will be recognized for the passion of our researchers and partners in providing quality, innovative paleoclimate interpretation and data analysis to the science (climate change) community and to the public we serve.
- Publications
Below are USGS publications associated with this project. For a full list of PRISM related publications, CLICK HERE.
Filter Total Items: 39Bathymetric controls on Pliocene North Atlantic and Arctic sea surface temperature and deepwater production
The mid-Pliocene warm period (MPWP; ~ 3.3 to 3.0 Ma) is the most recent interval in Earth's history in which global temperatures reached and remained at levels similar to those projected for the near future. The distribution of global warmth, however, was different than today in that the high latitudes warmed more than the tropics. Multiple temperature proxies indicate significant sea surface warmAuthorsMarci M. Robinson, P.J. Valdes, A.M. Haywood, H.J. Dowsett, D.J. Hill, S.M. JonesSea surface temperatures of the mid-Piacenzian Warm Period: A comparison of PRISM3 and HadCM3
It is essential to document how well the current generation of climate models performs in simulating past climates to have confidence in their ability to project future conditions. We present the first global, in-depth comparison of Pliocene sea surface temperature (SST) estimates from a coupled ocean–atmosphere climate model experiment and a SST reconstruction based on proxy data. This enables thAuthorsHarry J. Dowsett, A.M. Haywood, P.J. Valdes, Marci M. Robinson, D.J. Lunt, D.J. Hill, D.K. Stoll, Kevin M. FoleySensitivity of Pliocene ice sheets to orbital forcing
The stability of the Earth's major ice sheets is a critical uncertainty in predictions of future climate and sea level change. One method of investigating the behaviour of the Greenland and the Antarctic ice sheets in a warmer-than-modern climate is to look back at past warm periods of Earth history, for example the Pliocene. This paper presents climate and ice sheet modelling results for the mid-AuthorsA.M. Dolan, A.M. Haywood, D.J. Hill, H.J. Dowsett, S.J. Hunter, D.J. Lunt, S.J. PickeringQuantifying Uncertainty in Model Predictions for the Pliocene (Plio-QUMP): Initial results
Examination of the mid-Pliocene Warm Period (mPWP; ~ 3.3 to 3.0 Ma BP) provides an excellent opportunity to test the ability of climate models to reproduce warm climate states, thereby assessing our confidence in model predictions. To do this it is necessary to relate the uncertainty in model simulations of mPWP climate to uncertainties in projections of future climate change. The uncertainties inAuthorsJ.O. Pope, M. Collins, A.M. Haywood, Harry J. Dowsett, S.J. Hunter, D.J. Lunt, S.J. Pickering, M.J. PoundClimate change lessons from a warm world
In the early 1970’s to early 1980’s Soviet climatologists were making comparisons to past intervals of warmth in the geologic record and suggesting that these intervals could be possible analogs for 21st century “greenhouse” conditions. Some saw regional warming as a benefit to the Soviet Union and made comments along the lines of “Set fire to the coal mines!” These sentiments were alarming to somAuthorsHarry J. DowsettePRISM: A case study in multiple proxy and mixed temporal resolution integration
As part of the Pliocene Research, Interpretation and Synoptic Mapping (PRISM) Project, we present the ePRISM experiment designed I) to provide climate modelers with a reconstruction of an early Pliocene warm period that was warmer than the PRISM interval (similar to 3.3 to 3.0 Ma), yet still similar in many ways to modern conditions and 2) to provide an example of how best to integrate multiple-prAuthorsMarci M. Robinson, Harry J. DowsettThe PRISM3D paleoenvironmental reconstruction
The Pliocene Research, Interpretation and Synoptic Mapping (PRISM) paleoenvironmental reconstruction is an internally consistent and comprehensive global synthesis of a past interval of relatively warm and stable climate. It is regularly used in model studies that aim to better understand Pliocene climate, to improve model performance in future climate scenarios, and to distinguish model-dependentAuthorsH. Dowsett, M. Robinson, A.M. Haywood, U. Salzmann, Daniel Hill, L.E. Sohl, M. Chandler, Mark Williams, K. Foley, D.K. StollWhy Study Paleoclimate?
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) researchers are at the forefront of paleoclimate research, the study of past climates. With their unique skills and perspective, only geologists have the tools necessary to delve into the distant past (long before instrumental records were collected) in order to better understand global environmental conditions that were very different from today's conditions. PaleoclAuthorsMarci Robinson, Harry DowsettMid-Piacensian mean annual sea surface temperature: an analysis for data-model comparisons
Numerical models of the global climate system are the primary tools used to understand and project climate disruptions in the form of future global warming. The Pliocene has been identified as the closest, albeit imperfect, analog to climate conditions expected for the end of this century, making an independent data set of Pliocene conditions necessary for ground truthing model results. Because moAuthorsHarry J. Dowsett, Marci M. Robinson, Kevin M. Foley, Danielle K. StollEarth system sensitivity inferred from Pliocene modelling and data
Quantifying the equilibrium response of global temperatures to an increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations is one of the cornerstones of climate research. Components of the Earths climate system that vary over long timescales, such as ice sheets and vegetation, could have an important effect on this temperature sensitivity, but have often been neglected. Here we use a coupled atmospheAuthorsD.J. Lunt, A.M. Haywood, G.A. Schmidt, U. Salzmann, P.J. Valdes, H.J. DowsettPliocene climate
The Pliocene Epoch, 5.3 Ma to 1.8 Ma, was a time when paleoclimate conditions ranged from very warm, equable climates (on a global scale), rhythmically varying every 40,000 years, to high-amplitude glacial-interglacial cycles that led to the “Ice Ages” of the Pleistocene. Evidence for paleoclimate conditions comes from fossils, geochemical data, and the integration of these data with sophisticatedAuthorsHarry J. Dowsett, R. P. Caballero-GillPRISM3/GISS Topographic Reconstruction
The PRISM3/GISS topographic reconstruction is one of the global data sets incorporated into a new reconstruction for the mid-Piacenzian warm interval of the Pliocene, at about 3.3 to 3.0 Ma. The PRISM3/GISS topography-gridded data set is a digitization of a graphical reconstruction, provided at 2 deg x 2 deg resolution and based on updated paleoaltimetry data and a refined land/ocean mask. Mid-PiaAuthorsLinda E. Sohl, Mark A. Chandler, Robert B. Schmunk, Ken Mankoff, Jeffrey A. Jonas, Kevin M. Foley, Harry J. Dowsett - Partners
Below are PRISM4D collaborating institutions.