Mid-Pliocene West African Monsoon rainfall as simulated in the PlioMIP2 ensemble

The mid-Pliocene warm period (mPWP; similar to 3.2 million years ago) is seen as the most recent time period characterized by a warm climate state, with similar to modern geography and similar to 400 ppmv atmospheric CO2 concentration, and is therefore often considered an interesting analogue for near-future climate projections. Paleoenvironmental reconstructions indicate higher surface temperatures, decreasing tropical deserts, and a more humid climate in West Africa characterized by a strengthened West African Monsoon (WAM). Using model results from the second phase of the Pliocene Modelling Intercomparison Project (PlioMIP2) ensemble, we analyse changes of the WAM rainfall during the mPWP by comparing them with the control simulations for the pre-industrial period. The ensemble shows a robust increase in the summer rainfall over West Africa and the Sahara region, with an average increase of 2.5 mm/d, contrasted by a rainfall decrease over the equatorial Atlantic. An anomalous warming of the Sahara and deepening of the Saharan Heat Low, seen in >90% of the models, leads to a strengthening of the WAM and an increased monsoonal flow into the continent. A similar warming of the Sahara is seen in future projections using both phase 3 and 5 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP3 and CMIP5). Though previous studies of future projections indicate a west-east drying-wetting contrast over the Sahel, PlioMIP2 simulations indicate a uniform rainfall increase in that region in warm climates characterized by increasing greenhouse gas forcing. We note that this effect will further depend on the long-term response of the vegetation to the CO2 forcing.

Automated summary

The mid-Pliocene warm period was a time characterized by warm climate state with higher surface temperatures in West Africa and a strengthened West African Monsoon, resulting in increased summer rainfall over West Africa and the Sahara region but decreased rainfall over the equatorial Atlantic. Models also indicate a warming Sahara and deepening Saharan Heat Low, leading to a strengthening of the WAM and increased monsoonal flow into the continent.