The PRISM (Pliocene palaeoclimate) reconstruction: time for a paradigm shift

Area of Science:

• Paleoclimatology
• Oceanography
• Climate Science

Background:

• Global paleoclimate reconstructions are crucial for understanding climate change.
• Current oceanic mixed layer representations for data-model comparison are outdated.
• A paradigm shift towards a more holistic marine paleoclimate reconstruction is needed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a plan for the next generation of the Pliocene Research, Interpretation and Synoptic Mapping (PRISM) products.
• To incorporate all valuable climate data, moving beyond single-temperature representations.
• To develop a more nuanced interpretation of multi-dimensional oceanographic processes.

Main Methods:

• Integrating multiple environmental proxies to characterize the oceanic mixed layer.
• Incorporating regional climate dynamics and process-based studies.
• Developing a finer temporal resolution within the Mid-Piacenzian Age of the Pliocene.
• Utilizing underused proxies for environmental snapshots.
• Creating a proxy-rich, temporally nested, process-oriented digital database with GIS capabilities.

Main Results:

• The proposed PRISM update will capture a wealth of hidden environmental information.
• The new approach will provide a more holistic and nuanced interpretation of oceanographic processes.
• The digital database will feature a 3D grid of the ocean surface layer with extensive data per cell.

Conclusions:

• The next generation of PRISM products will offer a significant advancement in marine paleoclimate reconstruction.
• This proxy-rich, process-oriented approach will enhance data-model comparisons and climate change understanding.
• The digital, GIS-enabled database will facilitate detailed analysis of past ocean conditions.