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The Hadley circulation in the Pangea era.
Shiyan Zhang1, Yongyun Hu1, Jun Yang1
1Laboratory for Climate and Ocean-Atmosphere Studies, Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
Science Bulletin
|May 13, 2023
Summary
The Pangea era featured weaker and wider Hadley circulation compared to pre-industrial times. This atmospheric change was driven by increased stability and influenced by the supercontinent
Area of Science:
- Paleoclimatology
- Atmospheric Science
- Earth System Science
Background:
- The Pangea era was a unique period with a hothouse climate and the last supercontinent.
- Atmospheric circulation during Pangea likely differed significantly from modern patterns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate Hadley circulation during the Pangea era.
- To compare Pangea's Hadley circulation with present-day conditions using climate simulations.
Main Methods:
- Performed climate simulations for the Pangea era.
- Compared simulated Pangea circulation with pre-industrial (PI) climate data.
Main Results:
- Annual mean Hadley cells were 20-45% weaker and 2° wider in latitude than in the PI climate.
- The austral winter cell weakened by 27% and expanded by 2.6°.
- Ascending branches of winter cells shifted poleward (23°S and 18°N), unlike present locations.
Conclusions:
- Weakening and widening of Hadley circulation resulted from increased tropical and subtropical static stability.
- Poleward shifts of winter cell ascending branches were linked to Pangea's geographic configuration.
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