4,5,3,6,1,2,3- 1Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- 2Group of Applied Physics, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- 3Centre pour la Vie dans l’Univers (CVU), University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- 4Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l’Environnement (LSCE), CEA, CNRS, UVSQ, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
- 5Institut Pierre-Simon Laplace (IPSL), Université Versailles Saint-Quentin, Guyancourt, France
- 6Section of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
Paleogeographic reconstructions of the deep past are affected by large uncertainties due to limitations in dating, the scarcity of sedimentary sequences, and imperfect constraints on the positions of tectonic plates. These uncertainties in the boundary conditions propagate into climate simulations, affecting their accuracy.
In this study, we compare two paleogeographic reconstructions, Panalesis [1] and PaleoMap [2], to assess how differences in the paleogeographic reconstructions influence the climate response at the Permian-Triassic Boundary. Climate simulations are performed using biogeodyn-MITgcmIS [3], a recently developed modelling tool in which the dynamical core of both the atmosphere and the ocean is provided by the MIT general circulation model, while offline coupling ensures the consistent evolution of vegetation and ice sheets (when present).
Beyond the direct comparison of paleogeographic reconstructions, aquaplanet and simplified configurations are employed under the same paleoclimate conditions to isolate feedbacks arising from land distribution. The resulting steady-state climates are systematically compared with those obtained using Pangea configurations derived from Panalesis and PaleoMap. The impact on terrestrial vegetation is also estimated and discussed. Overall, the results provide a framework for systematically assessing how paleogeographic reconstructions affect coupled climate-biosphere dynamics.
References
[1] Vérard, Geological Magazine 156, 320 (2019)
[2] Scotese, Atlas of Earth History, PALEOMAP Project (2001)
[3] Moinat et al., EGUsphere [preprint], https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-2946 (2025).
How to cite: Kang, B., Moinat, L., Ragon, C., Vérard, C., and Brunetti, M.: How palaeogeographic reconstructions influence climate: the Permian-Triassic Boundary case study, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-7068, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-7068, 2026.
