C. Gallardo et al., Multi-year simulations using a regional-climate model over the Iberian Peninsula: Current climate and doubled CO2 scenario, Q J R METEO, 127(575), 2001, pp. 1659-1681
Citations number
80
Categorie Soggetti
Earth Sciences
Journal title
QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY
In order to analyse the regional climate sensitivity in the Iberian Peninsu
la and surrounding areas to the global change related to an increase Of CO2
, two simulations (current climate and scenario) are performed using a regi
onal-climate model (RCM) one-way nested in a global circulation model (GCM)
. Both simulations cover a ten-year period. The results of the control simu
lation (current climate) are compared to a climatological database. RCM and
GCM representations of the climate are realistic, but the RCM shows more d
etailed results. Following this, a statistical analysis of the differences
between current climate and double CO2 scenario simulations is carried out
considering both 2 rn temperature and precipitation. The analysis shows a s
ignificant warming in seasonal averages and important differences in the 2
rn temperature interannual variability. Especially important is the strong
increase in interannual variability of precipitation found in winter and au
tumn. Relationships between anomalies of general circulation (500 hPa geopo
tential field) and surface temperature, precipitation and cloudiness are al
so analysed, showing an important effect of cloud cover anomalies over the
2 rn. temperature interannual variability.