This website hosts a suite of simulations of present and future regional climate that was produced for research and educational applications. The climate simulations were conducted with a regional climate model, RegCM3, which is a high resolution atmospheric model coupled with a physically based model of surface processes (Biosphere Atmosphere Transfer Scheme, BATS). We prescribed atmospheric composition in the RegCM3 simulations to match the 20th century and A2 scenario time series that were developed for the IPCC AR4 (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2007) and used in the driving GCMs. We selected the A2 scenario because it provides an upper bound on future emissions and because it is similar to the RCP8.5 scenario developed for the IPCC AR5.
The overarching goals of the modeling project are 1) to assess the feasibility of producing long, high resolution (50 and 15 km) simulations of weather and climate over North America (domains) 2) to provide a wide range of atmospheric and surface variables that are dynamically derived and internally consistent for past, present and future climate change research and 3) to develop integrated web applications that allow users to summarize, view, manipulate, and download the data sets.
Most of the sections under Dynamical Downscaling are extracted from an accompanying USGS Open File Report (OFR). The full OFR in pdf format can be downloaded here (link). To keep the file size manageable, the figures in the OFR are 300 dpi resolution. The original 600 dpi figures are available here (link).
Suggestions, comments and problems concerning the web applications or data sets should be communicated by email to gs-w-or_regclim@usgs.gov. We will be adding other downscaling products in the future.
Be sure to check for updates and changes in the Change Log before using or downloading data.
Quick Links
Regional Climate Change Viewer (RCCV)
| States/Counties | Hydrology |
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Regional Climate Downloader (RCD)
Disclaimer and Terms of Use
We have attempted to produce model simulations based on sound experimental design and accurate processing of the model output. We have fixed any errors that we have found or that have been brought to our attention by collaborators; however, it is certain that some errors still exist. We caution that, as is the case with other climate models, there are limitations to the modeling approach and the simulations of the future actually represent climate sensitivity tests and not necessarily true projections.
All model datasets are freely available and are intended for further climate-related scientific research. Although these data have been processed successfully on a computer system at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), no warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the display or utility of the data on any other system, or for general or scientific purposes, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty. The USGS shall not be held liable for improper or incorrect use of the data described and/or contained herein.
References to non-USGS products, services, and tradenames are provided for information only and do not constitute endorsement or warranty, express or implied, by the USGS, U.S. Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government, as to their suitability, content, usefulness, functioning, completeness, or accuracy.
USGS Open-File Report 2011-1238:
Suggested citation:
Hostetler, S.W., Alder, J.R. and Allan, A.M., 2011, Dynamically downscaled climate simulations over North America: Methods, evaluation and supporting documentation for users: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2011-1238, 64 p.
Publications and usage:
We would like to keep track of how the data are being used in publications and other applications. Please notify us with the pertinent information (email gs-w-or_regclim@usgs.gov) and we will add it to the list (Publications and Use).