High-resolution climate projection dataset over India using dynamical downscaling

Abstract

High-resolution climate projections are valuable resources for understanding the regional impacts of climate change and developing appropriate adaptation/mitigation strategies. In this study, we developed a 10-km gridded hydrometeorological dataset over India by dynamic downscaling of the bias-corrected Community Earth System Model (CESMv1) climate projections under RCP8.5 scenario using the state-of-the-art Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. The downscaled CESM dataset (DSCESM) is archived in the World Data Center for Climate (WDCC) portal at three temporal resolutions (daily, monthly and monthly climatology) for current (2006–2015), mid-century (2041–2050) and end-century (2091–2100) periods. The dataset includes 2-m air temperature, total accumulated precipitation, wind speed, relative humidity, sensible and latent heat fluxes, along with surface shortwave and outgoing longwave radiation. All the DSCESM variables were evaluated against reanalysis data and station observations for the period 2006–2015. This dataset can help us quantitatively understand regional climate change in India. It can also be used in conjunction with agricultural, hydrological, fire and other application models for climate change impact assessment on various sectors to help develop effective adaptation/mitigation strategies.