Archive | 2021
Dansgaard-Oeschger Tipping Events (TEs): Towards determining if IPCC-relevant models represent these TEs.
Abstract
<p>Dansgaard-Oeschger (DO) events are abrupt, large climate swings that punctuated the last glacial period. There is uncertainty whether current IPCC-relevant models can effectively represent the processes that cause DO events. This has implications for whether these models are also capable of simulating future TEs,  and more in general, for the delivery of accurate climate change projections. Here we present progress on possible pathways to a DO Paleoclimate Modelling Intercomparison Project (PMIP) protocol. This is broad interest to the climate community since (1), there is currently no PMIP common guidance to investigate DO events, (2) it could help carry out simulations in Earth system models under a common framework, and (3) it will help guide a more methodical search for DO events in current models. A protocol could help investigate cold-period TEs through a range of insolation-, freshwater-, green-house-gas-, and Northern Hemisphere ice sheet-related forcings, as well as evaluating the possibility of spontaneous TEs. MIS3 was a period of noticeable millennial-scale climate variability, characterised by the most regular incidence of DO events (Schulz et al., 1999). Although most abrupt DO events happened during MIS3, only few studies investigate TEs in coupled general circulation models under MIS 3 conditions (e.g., Kawamura et al., 2017; Zhang and Prange, 2020). Here, we therefore suggest that the MIS3 period could be the focus of such a DO-event focussed modelling protocol. Experiments performed under MIS 3 boundary conditions may help (1) explore variability under intermediate glacial conditions, (2) better understand the mechanisms behind millennial-scale TEs, (3) look for spontaneous DO-type oscillations, and (4) help answer the question: “are models too stable?”.</p>