Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-1197
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-1197
27 Jun 2023
 | 27 Jun 2023

High resolution LGM climate over Europe and the Alpine region using the regional climate model WRF

Emmanuele Russo, Jonathan Buzan, Sebastian Lienert, Guillaume Jouvet, Patricio Velasquez Alvarez, Basil Davis, Patrick Ludwig, Fortunat Joos, and Christoph Raible

Abstract. In this study we present a series of sensitivity experiments conducted for the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM, ~21000 years ago) over Europe using the regional climate Weather Research and Forecasting model (WRF). Using a 4 step 2-way nesting approach, we are able to reach a convection-permitting horizontal resolution over the inner part of the study area, covering Central Europe and the Alpine region. The main objective of the paper is to evaluate a model version including a series of new developments better suitable for the simulation of paleo-glacial time slices with respect to the ones employed in former studies. The evaluation of the model is conducted against newly available pollen-based reconstructions of the LGM European climate and takes into account the effect of two main sources of model uncertainty: a different height of continental glaciers at higher latitudes of the northern hemisphere and different land cover. Model results are in good agreement with evidence from the proxies, in particular for temperatures. Importantly, the consideration of different ensemble members for characterizing model uncertainty allows to increase the agreement of the model against the proxy reconstructions that would be obtained when considering a single model realization. The spread of the produced ensemble is relatively small for temperature, beside areas surrounding glaciers in summer. On the other hand, differences between the different ensemble members are very pronounced for precipitation, in particular in winter over areas highly affected by moisture advection from the Atlantic. This highlights the importance of the considered sources of uncertainty for the study of European LGM climate and allows to determine where the results of an RCM are more likely to be uncertain for the considered case study. Finally, the results are also used to demonstrate the added value of convection-permitting resolutions, at both local and regional scales, under glacial conditions.

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Journal article(s) based on this preprint

12 Mar 2024
High-resolution LGM climate of Europe and the Alpine region using the regional climate model WRF
Emmanuele Russo, Jonathan Buzan, Sebastian Lienert, Guillaume Jouvet, Patricio Velasquez Alvarez, Basil Davis, Patrick Ludwig, Fortunat Joos, and Christoph C. Raible
Clim. Past, 20, 449–465, https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-20-449-2024,https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-20-449-2024, 2024
Short summary
Emmanuele Russo, Jonathan Buzan, Sebastian Lienert, Guillaume Jouvet, Patricio Velasquez Alvarez, Basil Davis, Patrick Ludwig, Fortunat Joos, and Christoph Raible

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-1197', Anonymous Referee #1, 27 Jul 2023
  • RC2: 'Review of "High resolution LGM climate over Europe and the Alpine region using the regional climate model WRF" by E. Russo and coauthors', Anonymous Referee #2, 14 Sep 2023

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-1197', Anonymous Referee #1, 27 Jul 2023
  • RC2: 'Review of "High resolution LGM climate over Europe and the Alpine region using the regional climate model WRF" by E. Russo and coauthors', Anonymous Referee #2, 14 Sep 2023

Peer review completion

AR: Author's response | RR: Referee report | ED: Editor decision | EF: Editorial file upload
ED: Publish subject to minor revisions (review by editor) (04 Nov 2023) by Laurie Menviel
AR by Emmanuele Russo on behalf of the Authors (15 Dec 2023)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Publish subject to minor revisions (review by editor) (01 Jan 2024) by Laurie Menviel
AR by Emmanuele Russo on behalf of the Authors (29 Jan 2024)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Publish as is (31 Jan 2024) by Laurie Menviel
AR by Emmanuele Russo on behalf of the Authors (31 Jan 2024)  Manuscript 

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

12 Mar 2024
High-resolution LGM climate of Europe and the Alpine region using the regional climate model WRF
Emmanuele Russo, Jonathan Buzan, Sebastian Lienert, Guillaume Jouvet, Patricio Velasquez Alvarez, Basil Davis, Patrick Ludwig, Fortunat Joos, and Christoph C. Raible
Clim. Past, 20, 449–465, https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-20-449-2024,https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-20-449-2024, 2024
Short summary
Emmanuele Russo, Jonathan Buzan, Sebastian Lienert, Guillaume Jouvet, Patricio Velasquez Alvarez, Basil Davis, Patrick Ludwig, Fortunat Joos, and Christoph Raible
Emmanuele Russo, Jonathan Buzan, Sebastian Lienert, Guillaume Jouvet, Patricio Velasquez Alvarez, Basil Davis, Patrick Ludwig, Fortunat Joos, and Christoph Raible

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Latest update: 01 Sep 2024
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Short summary
We present a series of experiments conducted for the Last Glacial Maximum (~21000 years ago) over Europe using the regional climate Weather Research and Forecasting model (WRF) at convection-permitting resolutions. The model, with new developments better suitable for paleo studies, agrees well with pollen-based climate reconstructions. This agreement is improved when considering different sources of uncertainty. The added value of convection-permitting resolutions is also demonstrated.