Articles | Volume 11, issue 12
https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-11-1701-2015
https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-11-1701-2015
Research article
 | 
16 Dec 2015
Research article |  | 16 Dec 2015

Climate-vegetation modelling and fossil plant data suggest low atmospheric CO2 in the late Miocene

M. Forrest, J. T. Eronen, T. Utescher, G. Knorr, C. Stepanek, G. Lohmann, and T. Hickler

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AR: Author's response | RR: Referee report | ED: Editor decision
ED: Reconsider after major revisions (14 Sep 2015) by Martin Claussen
AR by J.T. Eronen on behalf of the Authors (02 Nov 2015)  Author's response   Manuscript 
ED: Referee Nomination & Report Request started (03 Nov 2015) by Martin Claussen
RR by Anonymous Referee #1 (16 Nov 2015)
ED: Publish subject to technical corrections (16 Nov 2015) by Martin Claussen
AR by J.T. Eronen on behalf of the Authors (24 Nov 2015)  Manuscript 
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Short summary
We simulated Late Miocene (11-7 Million years ago) vegetation using two plausible CO2 concentrations: 280ppm CO2 and 450ppm CO2. We compared the simulated vegetation to existing plant fossil data for the whole Northern Hemisphere. Our results suggest that during the Late Miocene the CO2 levels have been relatively low, or that other factors that are not included in the models maintained the seasonal temperate forests and open vegetation.