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'''National climate (change) projections''' are specialised [[regional climate projections]], typically produced for individual [[countries]] by their national [[meteorological services]] or institutions working on [[climate change]]. The climate projections ([[narratives]], [[graphs]], [[maps]], and often including raw [[data]]) are often publicly available for [[climate impact studies]], [[risk assessment]]s, [[climate change adaptation]] research, [[policy|policy makers]], public and private [[decision makers]], including [[government agencies]]. Often several scenarios (e.g. [[Representative Concentration Pathways|RCPs]] are presented, allowing users more choice in exploring impacts. The results are updated every few years, when further scientific insights and improved climate models are available.
'''National climate (change) projections''' are specialised [[regional climate projections]], typically produced for individual [[countries]] by their national [[meteorological services]] or institutions working on [[climate change]]. The climate projections ([[narratives]], [[graphs]], [[maps]], and often including raw [[data]]) are often publicly available for [[climate impact studies]], [[risk assessment]]s, [[climate change adaptation]] research, [[policy|policy makers]], public and private [[decision makers]], including [[government agencies]]. Often several scenarios (e.g. [[Representative Concentration Pathways|RCPs]]) are presented, allowing users more choice in exploring impacts. The results are updated every few years, when further scientific insights and improved climate models are available.


== Aims ==
== Aims ==


National climate (change) projections inform how a country's climate may change in the future under some predefined scenarios. The projections often explore the uncertainty range, to give better guidance to users. National climate projections form the basis of national climate adaptation and climate resilience plans, which are also collected by the [[UNFCCC]].
National climate (change) projections inform how a country's climate may change in the future under some predefined scenarios. The projections often explore the uncertainty range, to give better guidance to users. National climate projections form the basis of national climate adaptation and climate resilience plans, which are also collected by the [[UNFCCC]] and used in [[IPCC]] assessments.


== Design ==
== Design ==


To explore a wide range of possible outcomes and to enhance confidence in the projections, national climate change projections are often generated from [[GCM|general circulation model]] [[climate ensemble]]s, which can take the form of [[Climate_ensemble#Perturbed_physics_ensemble|perturbed physics ensembles]] (PPE), multi-model ensembles (MME) or [[Climate_ensemble#Initial_condition_ensemble|initial condition ensembles]]. As the resolution of the underlying GCMs are typically quite coarse, the projections are often [[Downscaling|downscaled]] using [[regional climate models]] (RCMs), this is called dynamical downscaling; an alternative approach uses statistical methods. Some projections include data from areas which are larger than the national boundaries, e.g. to more fully evaluate [[catchment areas]] of [[trans-boundary rivers]].
To explore a wide range of possible outcomes and to enhance confidence in the projections, national climate change projections are often generated from [[GCM|general circulation model]] [[climate ensemble]]s, which can take the form of [[Climate_ensemble#Perturbed_physics_ensemble|perturbed physics ensembles]] (PPE), multi-model ensembles (MME) or [[Climate_ensemble#Initial_condition_ensemble|initial condition ensembles]]. As the resolution of the underlying GCMs are typically quite coarse, the projections are often [[Downscaling|downscaled]] using [[regional climate models]] (RCMs), this is called dynamical downscaling; an alternative approach uses statistical methods. Some projections include data from areas which are larger than the national boundaries, e.g. to more fully evaluate [[catchment areas]] of [[trans-boundary rivers]]. Some countries have also produced more localised projections for smaller administrative areas, e.g. [[U.S. state|States]] in the [[USA]], [[States of Germany|Länder]] in [[Germany]] and [[Cantons of Switzerland|Cantons] in [[Switzerland]].


== Examples ==
== Examples ==

Revision as of 08:08, 17 August 2018

National climate (change) projections are specialised regional climate projections, typically produced for individual countries by their national meteorological services or institutions working on climate change. The climate projections (narratives, graphs, maps, and often including raw data) are often publicly available for climate impact studies, risk assessments, climate change adaptation research, policy makers, public and private decision makers, including government agencies. Often several scenarios (e.g. RCPs) are presented, allowing users more choice in exploring impacts. The results are updated every few years, when further scientific insights and improved climate models are available.

Aims

National climate (change) projections inform how a country's climate may change in the future under some predefined scenarios. The projections often explore the uncertainty range, to give better guidance to users. National climate projections form the basis of national climate adaptation and climate resilience plans, which are also collected by the UNFCCC and used in IPCC assessments.

Design

To explore a wide range of possible outcomes and to enhance confidence in the projections, national climate change projections are often generated from general circulation model climate ensembles, which can take the form of perturbed physics ensembles (PPE), multi-model ensembles (MME) or initial condition ensembles. As the resolution of the underlying GCMs are typically quite coarse, the projections are often downscaled using regional climate models (RCMs), this is called dynamical downscaling; an alternative approach uses statistical methods. Some projections include data from areas which are larger than the national boundaries, e.g. to more fully evaluate catchment areas of trans-boundary rivers. Some countries have also produced more localised projections for smaller administrative areas, e.g. States in the USA, Länder in Germany and [[Cantons of Switzerland|Cantons] in Switzerland.

Examples

For countries which lack adequate resources to develop their own climate change projections, organisations such as UNDP or FAO have sponsored development of projections and national adaptation programmes (NAPAs) [6] [7].


Applications

National climate projections are widely used to predict climate change impacts in a wide range of economic sectors, and also to inform climate change adaptation studies and decisions. Some examples include:

Comparisons

A detailed comparison between some national climate projections have been carried out [23] and [24].

See also

External links

References