Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-215
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-215
20 Apr 2022
 | 20 Apr 2022

Present and future European heat wave magnitudes: climatologies, trends, and their associated uncertainties in GCM-RCM model chains

Changgui Lin, Erik Kjellström, Renate Anna Irma Wilcke, and Deliang Chen

Abstract. This study investigates present and future European heat wave magnitudes, represented by the Heat Wave Magnitude Index-daily (HWMId), for regional climate models (RCMs) and their driving global climate models (GCMs) over Europe. A subset of the large EURO-CORDEX ensemble is employed to study sources of uncertainties related to choice of GCMs, RCMs and their combinations.

We initially compare the evaluation runs of the RCMs driven by ERA-interim reanalysis to the observations, finding that the RCMs are able to capture most of the observed spatial and temporal features of HWMId. With their higher resolution, RCMs can reveal spatial features of HWMId associated with small-scale processes; moreover, RCMs represent large scale features of HWMId in a satisfactory way. Our results indicate a clear added value of the RCMs in relation to their driving GCMs. Forced with the emission scenario RCP8.5, all the GCM and RCM simulations consistently project a rise in HWMId at an exponential-like rate. However, the climate change signals projected by the GCMs are generally attenuated when downscaled by the RCMs, with the spatial pattern also altered.

The uncertainty in a simulated future change of heat wave magnitudes following global warming can be attributed almost equally to the difference in model physics (as represented by different RCMs) and to the driving data associated with different GCMs. Regarding the uncertainty associated with RCM choice, representation of the orographic effects differently is a major factor. No consistent spatial pattern in the ensemble spread associated with different GCMs is observed between the RCMs, suggesting GCMs' uncertainties are transformed by RCMs in a complex manner due to the nonlinear nature of model dynamics and physics.

Publisher's note: Copernicus Publications remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims made in the text, published maps, institutional affiliations, or any other geographical representation in this preprint. The responsibility to include appropriate place names lies with the authors.

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

25 Aug 2022
Present and future European heat wave magnitudes: climatologies, trends, and their associated uncertainties in GCM-RCM model chains
Changgui Lin, Erik Kjellström, Renate Anna Irma Wilcke, and Deliang Chen
Earth Syst. Dynam., 13, 1197–1214, https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-13-1197-2022,https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-13-1197-2022, 2022
Short summary
Changgui Lin, Erik Kjellström, Renate Anna Irma Wilcke, and Deliang Chen

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-215', Anonymous Referee #1, 01 May 2022
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Changgui Lin, 29 Jun 2022
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-215', Clemens Schwingshackl, 02 Jun 2022
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Changgui Lin, 29 Jun 2022
  • RC3: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-215', Anonymous Referee #3, 07 Jun 2022
    • AC3: 'Reply on RC3', Changgui Lin, 29 Jun 2022

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-215', Anonymous Referee #1, 01 May 2022
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Changgui Lin, 29 Jun 2022
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-215', Clemens Schwingshackl, 02 Jun 2022
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Changgui Lin, 29 Jun 2022
  • RC3: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-215', Anonymous Referee #3, 07 Jun 2022
    • AC3: 'Reply on RC3', Changgui Lin, 29 Jun 2022

Peer review completion

AR: Author's response | RR: Referee report | ED: Editor decision | EF: Editorial file upload
ED: Reconsider after major revisions (01 Jul 2022) by Gabriele Messori
AR by Changgui Lin on behalf of the Authors (01 Jul 2022)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Referee Nomination & Report Request started (01 Jul 2022) by Gabriele Messori
RR by Anonymous Referee #3 (18 Jul 2022)
RR by Clemens Schwingshackl (21 Jul 2022)
ED: Publish subject to minor revisions (review by editor) (21 Jul 2022) by Gabriele Messori
AR by Changgui Lin on behalf of the Authors (30 Jul 2022)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Publish as is (01 Aug 2022) by Gabriele Messori
AR by Changgui Lin on behalf of the Authors (01 Aug 2022)

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

25 Aug 2022
Present and future European heat wave magnitudes: climatologies, trends, and their associated uncertainties in GCM-RCM model chains
Changgui Lin, Erik Kjellström, Renate Anna Irma Wilcke, and Deliang Chen
Earth Syst. Dynam., 13, 1197–1214, https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-13-1197-2022,https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-13-1197-2022, 2022
Short summary
Changgui Lin, Erik Kjellström, Renate Anna Irma Wilcke, and Deliang Chen
Changgui Lin, Erik Kjellström, Renate Anna Irma Wilcke, and Deliang Chen

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Short summary
This study endorses RCMs' added-value upon their driving GCMs in representing observed heat wave magnitudes. The future increase of heat wave magnitudes projected by GCMs is attenuated when downscaled by RCMs. Within the downscaling, uncertainties can be attributed almost equally to choice of RCMs and to the driving data associated with different GCMs. Uncertainties of GCMs in simulating heat wave magnitudes are transformed by RCMs in a complex manner, rather than simply inherited.