On the suitability of regional climate models for reconstructing climatologies

• Published in: Atmospheric research Vol. 101; no. 3; pp. 739 - 751
• Main Authors: Tapiador, Francisco J., Angelis, Carlos F., Viltard, Nicolas, Cuartero, Fernando, de Castro, Manuel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01-08-2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Atmospherics; Climate models; Climatologies; Climatology; Earth Sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Environmental Sciences; Exact sciences and technology; External geophysics; Global Changes; Mathematical analysis; Mathematical models; Meteorology; Parametrization; RCM; Reanalysis; Regional; Regional climate models; Sciences of the Universe; Europe; Reanalysis; Climatologies; Regional climate models; Climatology; Historical reconstruction; atmospheric precipitation; Scale reduction; Regional scope; Wind velocity; Climate models; parametrization; Dynamic model; uncertainties; Computing method
• ISSN: 0169-8095; 1873-2895
• DOI: 10.1016/j.atmosres.2011.05.001

This paper discusses the potential of Regional Climate Models (RCMs) as reanalysis tools by presenting a reconstruction of the European climate using several RCMs with diverse physical parameterizations. The use of RCMs is intended to increase the spatial resolution of the analysis provided by Global Models through dynamic downscaling. At the same time, the use of several models allows us to characterize the uncertainties, as these can be estimated from the spread of the ensemble. When the RCMs are nested in reanalyses instead of in a Global Model it is possible to create climatologies of unprecedented robustness for variables such as temperature, precipitation, wind speed, and humidity, among others. While these climatologies are subject to further improvement as methods and computing power evolve, they point the way forward to the development of atmospheric information products suitable for a variety of studies including education, agriculture, renewable energies and climate change research, biogeography, insurance, risk assessment, hydrology, and regional planning.
► RCM climatologies present differences when compared with classical ones. ► RCMs can provide the best available view of the 3D climatology over a region. ► RCMs point the way forward to the development of new atmospheric information products.