Performance-based sub-selection of CMIP6 models for impact assessments in Europe

Author(s)
Tamzin E. Palmer, Carol F. Mcsweeney, Ben B.B. Booth, Matthew D.K. Priestley, Paolo Davini, Lukas Brunner, Leonard Borchert, Matthew B. Menary
Abstract

We have created a performance-based assessment of CMIP6 models for Europe that can be used to inform the sub-selection of models for this region. Our assessment covers criteria indicative of the ability of individual models to capture a range of large-scale processes that are important for the representation of present-day European climate. We use this study to provide examples of how this performance-based assessment may be applied to a multi-model ensemble of CMIP6 models to (a) filter the ensemble for performance against these climatological and processed-based criteria and (b) create a smaller subset of models based on performance that also maintains model diversity and the filtered projection range as far as possible. Filtering by excluding the least-realistic models leads to higher-sensitivity models remaining in the ensemble as an emergent consequence of the assessment. This results in both the 25th percentile and the median of the projected temperature range being shifted towards greater warming for the filtered set of models. We also weight the unfiltered ensemble against global trends. In contrast, this shifts the distribution towards less warming. This highlights a tension for regional model selection in terms of selection based on regional climate processes versus the global mean warming trend.

Organisation(s)
Department of Meteorology and Geophysics
External organisation(s)
Met Office, University of Exeter, Institute of Genetics and Biophysics "Adriano Buzzati-Traverso", CNR, Universität Hamburg, École Normale Supérieure, Paris
Journal
Earth System Dynamics
Volume
14
Pages
457-483
No. of pages
27
ISSN
2190-4979
DOI
https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-14-457-2023
Publication date
04-2023
Peer reviewed
Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
105206 Meteorology, 105204 Climatology
ASJC Scopus subject areas
General Earth and Planetary Sciences
Sustainable Development Goals
SDG 13 - Climate Action
Portal url
https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/6db063a1-0754-444f-b03b-3b992aac488c