National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Publication Abstracts

Sohl and Chandler 2007

Sohl, L.E., and M.A. Chandler, 2007: Reconstructing Neoproterozoic palaeoclimates using a combined data/modelling approach. In Deep-Time Perspectives on Climate Change: Marrying the Signal from Computer Models and Biological Proxies, Micropalaeontological Society Special Publication #2. M. Williams, A.M. Haywood, J. Gregory, and D.N. Schmidt, Eds., Geological Society, pp. 61-80.

Climate reconstructions of the Neoproterozoic Era (1000-542 Ma) face special challeges because many proxies used to constrain paleoclimates are not available/applicable in Precambrian time. Given the low available proxies, deep time climate simulations are best viewed as a means to address more fundamental questions about the nature of climate change and to address disparities in data interpretation by examining phenomena from a process-related persepctive. The Global Climate Model (GCM) simulations presented here were aimed at determining what combination of forcings might have permitted the initiative of low to mid-latitude continental ice-sheets during the Sturtian glacial interval, c. 750 Ma. However, despite the formation of extensive extratropical ice cover, tropical regions in these experiments remain too warm for the initiation of large ice sheets. The enhanced precipitation along the leading edge of ice regions suggests that the addition of topography relief and dynamic ice flow could make ice-sheets viable in subtropical regions. However, these simulations suggest that "hard" snowball Earth solutions are only likely for much earlier intervals in Earth history, and are certainly not viable combination with large accumulations of greenhouse gases.

• Get PDF (570 kB)
• PDF documents require the free Adobe Reader or compatible viewing software to be viewed.

Export citation: [ BibTeX ] [ RIS ]

@inbook{so06000k,
  author={Sohl, L. E. and Chandler, M. A.},
  editor={Williams, M. and Haywood, A. M. and Gregory, J. and Schmidt, D. N.},
  title={Reconstructing Neoproterozoic palaeoclimates using a combined data/modelling approach},
  booktitle={Deep-Time Perspectives on Climate Change: Marrying the Signal from Computer Models and Biological Proxies},
  year={2007},
  pages={61--80},
  publisher={Geological Society},
  address={London},
}

TY  - CHAP
ID  - so06000k
AU  - Sohl, L. E.
AU  - Chandler, M. A.
ED  - Williams, M.
ED  - Haywood, A. M.
ED  - Gregory, J.
ED  - Schmidt, D. N.
PY  - 2007
TI  - Reconstructing Neoproterozoic palaeoclimates using a combined data/modelling approach
BT  - Deep-Time Perspectives on Climate Change: Marrying the Signal from Computer Models and Biological Proxies
SP  - 61
EP  - 80
PB  - Geological Society
CY  - London
ER  -

• Return to 2007 Publications

• Return to Publications Homepage