Evidence of added value in North American regional climate model hindcast simulations using ever-increasing horizontal resolutions

Abstract

Florida peninsula and the Caribbean islands. Overall, the almost systematic improvements of the finer resolution simulations suggest that higher resolutions, only computationally affordable over smaller domains, might get a higher priority to promote RCM added value.

Exploring a Variable‐Resolution Approach for Simulating Regional Climate in the Rocky Mountain Region Using the VR‐CESM

“…10.1002/2017JD027008 parameterizations can be found in Zadra et al (2008), Martynov et al (2013), Šeparović et al (2013), andLucas-Picher et al (2017).…”

“…For the land surface, CRCM5 uses the Canadian Land‐Surface Scheme version 3.5 (Verseghy, ), allowing for a flexible number of layers and depth with snow explicitly treated. The detailed description of CRCM5 including the dynamic formulation and physical parameterizations can be found in Zadra et al (), Martynov et al (), Šeparović et al (), and Lucas‐Picher et al ().…”

“…Consequently, two common approaches for high‐resolution modeling have been generally employed. First, one approach is to use regional climate models (RCMs), forced at lateral boundaries by GCMs or reanalysis data (e.g., Christensen et al, ; Leung & Qian, ; Lucas‐Picher et al, ; Singh et al, ; Walker & Diffenbaugh, ; Wehner, , ). This approach is commonly referred to as dynamical downscaling.…”

Evaluating the Ability of CRCM5 to Simulate Mixed Precipitation

“…This is an essential step before attempting climate change projections for ZR and IP species. A CRCM5 simulation was performed with a horizontal grid of 0.11°, which has been documented (Lucas-Picher, Laprise, & Winger, 2016) to be essential for good reproduction of local topographic features, such as the SLRV, where the channelling in the valley can maintain or enhance the cold layer near the surface (Carrera, Gyakum, & Lin, 2009;Razy, Milrad, Atallah, & Gyakum, 2012;Roebber & Gyakum, 2003).…”

Is there potential added value in COSMO–CLM forced by ERA reanalysis data?

“…In their recent paper, Lucas-Picher et al (2016) present the added value of simulations performed with the Canadian Regional Climate Model (CRCM5) for North America. The authors show the benefits of the RCM simulations done on model grids with different horizontal resolution for some North American regions affected by characteristic weather phenomena as snow bands, orographical rainfall, and wind channeling.…”