Hot Desert Albedo and Climate Change: Mid-Holocene Monsoon in North Africa

Authors:
  • NNNathalie de Noblet-Ducoudré
    Nathalie de Noblet-Ducoudré
  • PBPascale Braconnot
    Pascale Braconnot
  • SJSylvie Joussaume
    Sylvie Joussaume
Open Access
Publisher website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Many models in the framework of the Paleoclimate Modelling Intercomparison Project have undertaken simulations of the mid-Holocene (6 kyr ago) climate change. Analysis of the results have mainly focused on the North African summer monsoon that was enhanced 6 kyr ago, in all models, in response to the prescribed enhanced summer insolation. The magnitude of the simulated increase in total rainfall is very different, however, among the models, and so is the prescribed mean hot desert albedo, which varies from 19% to 38%. The appropriate prescription of hot desert's brightness, in the simulation of present-day climate, is known to be a key parameter since the work of Charney, which has been confirmed by many subsequent studies. There is yet no consensus, however, on the albedo climatological values to be used by climate modelers. Here, it is questioned whether changes in the prescription of hot desert albedo may also affect the simulated intensity of climate change. Using the Laboratoire de Météorolo... Abstract Many models in the framework of the Paleoclimate Modelling Intercomparison Project have undertaken simulations of the mid-Holocene (6 kyr ago) climate change. Analysis of the results have mainly focused on the North African summer monsoon that was enhanced 6 kyr ago, in all models, in response to the prescribed enhanced summer insolation. The magnitude of the simulated increase in total rainfall is very different, however, among the models, and so is the prescribed mean hot desert albedo, which varies from 19% to 38%. The appropriate prescription of hot desert's brightness, in the simulation of present-day climate, is known to be a key parameter since the work of Charney, which has been confirmed by many subsequent studies. There is yet no consensus, however, on the albedo climatological values to be used by climate modelers. Here, it is questioned whether changes in the prescription of hot desert albedo may also affect the simulated intensity of climate change. Using the Laboratoire de Météorolo...

This publication has 43 references indexed in Scilit: