scholarly journals The effect of empirical-statistical correction of intensity-dependent model errors on the temperature climate change signal

2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (10) ◽  
pp. 4055-4066 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Gobiet ◽  
M. Suklitsch ◽  
G. Heinrich
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Model Uncertainty ◽  
Bias Correction ◽  
Climate Change Signal ◽  
Model Errors ◽  
Statistical Bias ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Dependent Model ◽  
Temperature Climate ◽  
Statistical Bias Correction

Abstract. This study discusses the effect of empirical-statistical bias correction methods like quantile mapping (QM) on the temperature change signals of climate simulations. We show that QM regionally alters the mean temperature climate change signal (CCS) derived from the ENSEMBLES multi-model data set by up to 15 %. Such modification is currently strongly discussed and is often regarded as deficiency of bias correction methods. However, an analytical analysis reveals that this modification corresponds to the effect of intensity-dependent model errors on the CCS. Such errors cause, if uncorrected, biases in the CCS. QM removes these intensity-dependent errors and can therefore potentially lead to an improved CCS. A similar analysis as for the multi-model mean CCS has been conducted for the variance of CCSs in the multi-model ensemble. It shows that this indicator for model uncertainty is artificially inflated by intensity-dependent model errors. Therefore, QM also has the potential to serve as an empirical constraint on model uncertainty in climate projections. However, any improvement of simulated CCSs by empirical-statistical bias correction methods can only be realized if the model error characteristics are sufficiently time-invariant.

scholarly journals The effect of empirical-statistical correction of intensity-dependent model errors on the climate change signal

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 5671-5701 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Gobiet ◽  
M. Suklitsch ◽  
G. Heinrich
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Model Uncertainty ◽  
Bias Correction ◽  
Climate Change Signal ◽  
Climate Projections ◽  
Model Errors ◽  
Statistical Bias ◽  
Dependent Model ◽  
Temperature Climate ◽  
Statistical Bias Correction

Abstract. This study discusses the effect of empirical-statistical bias correction methods like quantile mapping (QM) on the change signals of climate simulations. We show that QM regionally alters the mean temperature climate change signal (CCS) derived from the ENSEMBLES multi-model dataset by up to 15%. Such modification is currently strongly discussed and is often regarded as deficiency of bias correction methods. However, an analytical analysis reveals that this modification corresponds to the effect of intensity-dependent model errors on the CCS. Such errors cause, if uncorrected, biases in the CCS. QM removes these intensity-dependent errors and can therefore potentially lead to an improved CCS. A similar analysis as for the multi-model mean CCS has been conducted for the variance of CCSs in the multi-model ensemble. It shows that this indicator for model uncertainty is artificially inflated by intensity-dependent model errors. Therefore, QM has also the potential to serve as an empirical constraint on model uncertainty in climate projections. However, any improvement of simulated CCSs by empirical-statistical bias correction methods can only be realized, if the model error characteristics are sufficiently time-invariant.

scholarly journals Bias correction and post-processing under climate change

2011 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 911-924 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Vannitsem
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Bias Correction ◽  
General Circulation ◽  
Climate Changes ◽  
Climate Projections ◽  
Model Errors ◽  
Post Processing ◽  
Straightforward Application ◽  
Potential Impact ◽  
Temperature Climate

Abstract. The statistical and dynamical properties of bias correction and linear post-processing are investigated when the system under interest is affected by model errors and is experiencing parameter modifications, mimicking the potential impact of climate change. The analysis is first performed for simple typical scalar systems, an Ornstein-Uhlenbeck process (O-U) and a limit point bifurcation. It reveals system's specific (linear or non-linear) dependences of biases and post-processing corrections as a function of parameter modifications. A more realistic system is then investigated, a low-order model of moist general circulation, incorporating several processes of high relevance in the climate dynamics (radiative effects, cloud feedbacks...), but still sufficiently simple to allow for an extensive exploration of its dynamics. In this context, bias or post-processing corrections also display complicate variations when the system experiences temperature climate changes up to a few degrees. This precludes a straightforward application of these corrections from one system's state to another (as usually adopted for climate projections), and increases further the uncertainty in evaluating the amplitudes of climate changes.

scholarly journals The representation of location by regional climate models in complex terrain

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 3011-3028 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Maraun ◽  
M. Widmann
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Bias Correction ◽  
Climate Models ◽  
Climate Model ◽  
Regional Climate ◽  
Climate Change Signal ◽  
Model Errors ◽  
Model Simulations ◽  
Local Grid ◽  
Climate Model Simulations

Abstract. To assess potential impacts of climate change for a specific location, one typically employs climate model simulations at the grid box corresponding to the same geographical location. But based on regional climate model simulations, we show that simulated climate might be systematically displaced compared to observations. In particular in the rain shadow of moutain ranges, a local grid box is therefore often not representative of observed climate: the simulated windward weather does not flow far enough across the mountains; local grid boxes experience the wrong airmasses and atmospheric circulation. In some cases, also the local climate change signal is deteriorated. Classical bias correction methods fail to correct these location errors. Often, however, a distant simulated time series is representative of the considered observed precipitation, such that a non-local bias correction is possible. These findings also clarify limitations of bias correcting global model errors, and of bias correction against station data.

scholarly journals The representation of location by a regional climate model in complex terrain

2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (8) ◽  
pp. 3449-3456 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Maraun ◽  
M. Widmann
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Bias Correction ◽  
Climate Model ◽  
Regional Climate ◽  
Geographical Location ◽  
Climate Change Signal ◽  
Model Errors ◽  
Local Climate ◽  
Local Climate Change ◽  
Local Grid

Abstract. To assess potential impacts of climate change for a specific location, one typically employs climate model simulations at the grid box corresponding to the same geographical location. For most of Europe, this choice is well justified. But, based on regional climate simulations, we show that simulated climate might be systematically displaced compared to observations. In particular in the rain shadow of mountain ranges, a local grid box is therefore often not representative of observed climate: the simulated windward weather does not flow far enough across the mountains; local grid boxes experience the wrong air masses and atmospheric circulation. In some cases, also the local climate change signal is deteriorated. Classical bias correction methods fail to correct these location errors. Often, however, a distant simulated time series is representative of the considered observed precipitation, such that a non-local bias correction is possible. These findings also clarify limitations of bias correcting global model errors, and of bias correction against station data.

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