Training - Climate Modelling

Downscaling Climate Change Scenarios for Impacts and Adaptation Studies

For many climate change studies scenarios of climate change derived directly from GCM output are of insufficient spatial and temporal resolution. The spatial resolution of GCMs, in particular, means that the representation is much simplified in comparison with reality, with consequent loss of some of the characteristics that may have important influences on regional climate.

A number of methodologies have been developed for deriving more detailed regional and site scenarios of climate change for impacts and adaptation studies. These downscaling techniques are generally based on GCM output and have been designed to bridge the gap between the information that the climate modelling community can currently provide and that required by the impacts research community.

This training session will provide information on climate models and techniques, and then a hands-on training in the use of downscaling software for deriving climate change scenarios at high resolution.

Note: Attendees will be encouraged to bring their own meteorological data so that they may return home with downscaled scenarios of future climate change for their region.

Training Program

1. Introduction to Climate Modelling – General Circulation Models (GCMs) and Regional Climate Models (RCMs)
2. Downscaling GCMs and RCMs – Survey of Techniques, Methods and Softwares
3. Hands-on training of use of downscaling software and production of downscaled scenarios of future climate change based on meteorological information provided.

Teachers:

Don MacIver, Director, Impacts and Adaptation Research, Environment Canada

Adam Fenech, Associate Director, Impacts and Adaptation Research, Environment Canada

William Gough, University of Toronto

To register, click here