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Climate model boundary conditions for four Cretaceous time slices
1Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research, Utrecht University, Princetonplein 5, 3584 CC Utrecht, The Netherlands
2Faculty of Geosciences, P.O. Box 80021, 3508 TA Utrecht, The Netherlands
3Shell International Exploration and Production, P.O. Bos 60, 2280 Rijswijk, The Netherlands
4PALEOMAP Project, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Texas at Arlington, Texas, 76019, USA
*now at: Department of Geosciences, Virgina Tech, 4044 Derring Hall (0420) Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
Abstract. General circulation models (GCMs) are useful tools for investigating the characteristics and dynamics of past climates. Understanding of past climates contributes significantly to our overall understanding of Earth's climate system. One of the most time consuming, and often daunting, tasks facing the paleoclimate modeler, particularly those without a geological background, is the production of surface boundary conditions for past time periods. These boundary conditions consist of, at a minimum, continental configurations derived from plate tectonic modeling, topography, bathymetry, and a vegetation distribution. Typically, each researcher develops a unique set of boundary conditions for use in their simulations. Thus, unlike simulations of modern climate, basic assumptions in paleo surface boundary conditions can vary from researcher to researcher. This makes comparisons between results from multiple researchers difficult and, thus, hinders the integration of studies across the broader community. Unless special changes to surface conditions are warranted, researcher dependent boundary conditions are not the most efficient way to proceed in paleoclimate investigations. Here we present surface boundary conditions (land-sea distribution, paleotopography, paleobathymetry, and paleovegetation distribution) for four Cretaceous time slices (120 Ma, 110 Ma, 90 Ma, and 70 Ma). These boundary conditions are modified from base datasets to be appropriate for incorporation into numerical studies of Earth's climate and are available in NetCDF format upon request from the lead author. The land-sea distribution, bathymetry, and topography are based on the 1°×1° (latitude x longitude) paleo Digital Elevation Models (paleoDEMs) of Christopher Scotese. Those paleoDEMs were adjusted using the paleogeographical reconstructions of Ronald Blakey (Northern Arizona University) and published literature and were then modified for use in GCMs. The paleovegetation distribution is based on published data and reconstructions and consultation with members of the paleobotanical community and is represented as generalized biomes that should be easily translatable to many vegetation-modeling schemes.
Discussion Paper (PDF, 2098 KB) Interactive Discussion (Closed, 3 Comments) Final Revised Paper (CP)
Citation: Sewall, J. O., van de Wal, R. S. W., van der Zwan, K., van Ooosterhout, C., Dijkstra, H. A., and Scotese, C. R.: Climate model boundary conditions for four Cretaceous time slices, Clim. Past Discuss., 3, 791-810, 2007. Bibtex EndNote Reference Manager
