@article{fdi:010065797,
  title = {{Q}uantitative reconstructions of annual rainfall in {A}frica 6000 years ago : model-data comparison - art. no. {D}24110},
  author = {{P}eyron, {O}. and {J}olly, {D}. and {B}raconnot, {P}. and {B}onnefille, {R}. and {G}uiot, {J}. and {W}irrmann, {D}enis and {C}halie, {F}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{T}his paper provides the first set of quantitative reconstructions of annual precipitation for mid-{H}olocene {A}frica, based on pollen data. {T}he estimates of precipitation are based on 85 pollen sites {C}-14 dated at 6000 +/- 500 years {B}.{P} and distributed over the whole of {A}frica. {T}o improve the reliability of the pollen-based climate reconstruction, two methods are used: the 'modern analogues technique' ({MAT}) and the 'plant functional types' ({PFT}) methods. {W}e then conduct a model-data comparison for five distinct regions, allowing an evaluation of model outputs ( the {S}ahara-{S}ahel, the eastern {S}ahara, western equatorial {A}frica, {E}ast {A}frica, and {M}adagascar). {T}he pollen-inferred reconstructions are compared with 21 mid-{H}olocene simulations yielded by {A}tmospheric {G}eneral {C}irculation {M}odels ({AGCM}s), and coupled ocean-atmosphere-vegetation models ({OAVGCM}s). {T}he large-scale feature of the hydrological changes is shown to be well captured by most of the models. {D}ata show that during the mid-{H}olocene, the {S}ahara was considerably wetter than today (+200 to +700 mm/yr). {T}he results reinforce the conclusion that the {AGCM}s significantly underestimate this precipitation increase in the {S}ahara whereas the {OAVGCM} simulations are in accordance with the data. {O}ur results show that vegetation and ocean feedbacks do not have a strong impact in the intertropical zone and that models fail to properly reproduce the climatic conditions in {E}ast {A}frica and {M}adagascar. {T}he model-data comparison also suggests that the lengthening of the dry season during boreal winter in the west equatorial region is a robust feature although the pollen-based reconstruction shows no change or only slight drying there.},
  keywords = {{AFRIQUE}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{J}ournal of {G}eophysical {R}esearch {A}tmospheres},
  volume = {111},
  numero = {{D}24},
  pages = {{NIL}_30--{NIL}_38},
  ISSN = {0148-0227},
  year = {2006},
  DOI = {10.1029/2006{JD}007396},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010065797},
}