Articles | Volume 20, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-20-393-2024
© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-20-393-2024
© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
26 Feb 2024
Research article |
| 26 Feb 2024
| 26 Feb 2024
Last Glacial Maximum climate and atmospheric circulation over the Australian region from climate models
Yanxuan Du
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
School of Geography, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
Josephine R. Brown
School of Geography, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
J. M. Kale Sniderman
School of Geography, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
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During the last ice age, Northern Hemisphere ice sheets reshaped global climate. They shifted North Atlantic winds southward, increasing summer rainfall across Eurasia. They also altered tropical and Southern Hemisphere weather patterns, affecting rainfall far beyond the ice-covered regions. Our results show that the height and shape of the ice sheets had a much greater influence on global wind and rainfall patterns than changes in Earth’s orbit, greenhouse gases, or surface reflectivity.
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This study examines the climate response to different magnitudes of Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) weakening under glacial conditions using the Australian Earth System Model. A potential threshold is identified between linear AMOC slowdown and nonlinear shutdown, driven by a critical change in ocean heat loss that induces a nonlinear atmospheric response governed by energetic constraints.
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During the last ice age, Northern Hemisphere ice sheets reshaped global climate. They shifted North Atlantic winds southward, increasing summer rainfall across Eurasia. They also altered tropical and Southern Hemisphere weather patterns, affecting rainfall far beyond the ice-covered regions. Our results show that the height and shape of the ice sheets had a much greater influence on global wind and rainfall patterns than changes in Earth’s orbit, greenhouse gases, or surface reflectivity.
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This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Earth System Dynamics (ESD).
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Human emissions of greenhouse gases have warmed the planet rapidly, and without reductions in emissions, it is likely that Earth will exceed 2°C global warming by 2100. Periods of net-negative emissions may be required to satisfy Paris Agreement goals. We explore climate change under net-zero and net-negative emissions using plausible future scenarios.
Yanxuan Du, Josephine R. Brown, Laurie Menviel, Himadri Saini, Russell N. Drysdale, David K. Hutchinson, and Calla N. Gould-Whaley
Clim. Past, 22, 1105–1124, https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-22-1105-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-22-1105-2026, 2026
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This study examines the climate response to different magnitudes of Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) weakening under glacial conditions using the Australian Earth System Model. A potential threshold is identified between linear AMOC slowdown and nonlinear shutdown, driven by a critical change in ocean heat loss that induces a nonlinear atmospheric response governed by energetic constraints.
Andrew D. King, Tilo Ziehn, Matthew Chamberlain, Alexander R. Borowiak, Josephine R. Brown, Liam Cassidy, Andrea J. Dittus, Michael Grose, Nicola Maher, Seungmok Paik, Sarah E. Perkins-Kirkpatrick, and Aditya Sengupta
Earth Syst. Dynam., 15, 1353–1383, https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-15-1353-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-15-1353-2024, 2024
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Governments are targeting net-zero emissions later this century with the aim of limiting global warming in line with the Paris Agreement. However, few studies explore the long-term consequences of reaching net-zero emissions and the effects of a delay in reaching net-zero. We use the Australian Earth system model to examine climate evolution under net-zero emissions. We find substantial changes which differ regionally, including continued Southern Ocean warming and Antarctic sea ice reduction.
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Short summary
This study provides insights into regional Australian climate variations (temperature, precipitation, wind, and atmospheric circulation) during the Last Glacial Maximum (21 000 kyr ago) and the interconnections between climate variables in different seasons from climate model simulations. Model results are evaluated and compared with available palaeoclimate proxy records. Results show model responses diverge widely in both the tropics and mid-latitudes in the Australian region.
This study provides insights into regional Australian climate variations (temperature,...
