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Gondwanaland's seasonal cycle

Abstract

A two-dimensional energy balance climate model has been used to simulate the seasonal temperature cycle on a supercon-tinent-sized land mass. Experiments with idealized and realistic geography indicate that the land–sea configuration in high latitudes exerts a strong influence on the magnitude of summer warming. These simulations provide significant insight into the evolution of climate during the Palaeozoic, and raise questions about the presumed pre-eminent role of carbon dioxide in explaining long-term climate change.

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Crowley, T., Mengel, J. & Short, D. Gondwanaland's seasonal cycle. Nature 329, 803–807 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1038/329803a0

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