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3 years ago in Cenozoic Geology , Paleoclimatology By Prajwal Sharma
Why is the mid-late Pliocene so important in the geological time-scale?
In literature reviews, the Pliocene, especially around 3 million years ago, is constantly highlighted as an analog for future warming or a pivotal moment for ice sheet growth. Beyond the often-cited "warmer than today" fact, what specific geological and climatic thresholds were crossed then that make it so fundamentally important for our models?
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By Dharnas Answered 1 year ago
From my work with climate models, the Pliocene's importance is two-fold. First, it's the last time in Earth's history where atmospheric CO2 levels were consistently at 400-450 ppm essentially our current and near-future condition. This makes it a critical geological test case for climate sensitivity. Second, it captures the initiation of sustained Northern Hemisphere glaciation around 2.7 Ma. We can study the feedbacks like ocean circulation changes due to the closing of the Panama seaway that tipped the system from a warm, ice-free state into the glacial-interglacial cycles of the Pleistocene. It's the pivot point to our current icehouse world.
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