A modeling study suggests that weak atmospheric circulation resulting from weak north-south sea surface temperature gradients could explain why the subtropics were wet during the warm Pliocene Epoch, whereas global warming prediction scenarios, which contain comparatively strong atmospheric circulation, predicted subtropical aridification, highlighting the importance of accurately predicting how sea surface temperature gradients might change under global warming scenarios.
Article #17-03421: "Wetter subtropics in a warmer world: Contrasting past and future hydrological cycles," by Natalie J. Burls and Alexey V. Fedorov.
MEDIA CONTACT: Natalie J. Burls, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA; tel: 703-993-5756, 203-506-7190; e-mail: <nburls@gmu.edu>
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