Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:
This reconstruction of middle-Pliocene climate is organized as
a series of grids representing different environmental
attributes. The grids are designed for use with the GISS
Model II atmospheric general circulation model (GCM) using an
8°x10° resolution (Hansen et al., 1983). Following grid cell
by grid cell, land versus ocean allocations, winter and summer
sea ice coverage of ocean areas are assigned and then winter
and summer sea surface temperatures are assigned to open ocean
areas. Average land ice cover is recorded for land areas and
then land areas not covered by ice are assigned proportions of
six vegetation or land cover categories modified from Hansen
et al. (1983).
Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:
Dowsett, H., Thompson, R., Barron, J., Cronin, T., Fleming,
F., Ishman, S., Poore, R., Willard, D., and Holtz, T. Jr.,
Joint investigations of the Middle Pliocene climate I: PRISM
paleoenvironmental reconstructions: Global and Planetary
Change, v. 9, p. 169-175.