Climate change evolution of the hydrological balance of the Mediterranean, Black and Caspian Seas: impact of climate model resolution

Nellie Elguindi (1) , Samuel Somot (2) , Michel Déqué (3) , Wolfgang Ludwig (4)

1 OMP - Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées
2 CNRM - Centre national de recherches météorologiques
3 DIRSE - Météo-France Direction Interrégionale Sud-Est
4 CEFREM - Centre de formation et de recherche en environnement marin

In this study we have evaluated the ability of the CNRM-ARPEGE CLIMATE V4 general circulation model (GCM) to estimate the present-day hydrological budget components [precipitation minus evaporation over the sea (P − E) and fresh water runoff (R)] over the Mediterranean, Black and Caspian sea basins. Three simulations were performed which were exactly identical except for horizontal resolution, allowing for a unique opportunity to isolate and study the effects of resolution on simulating the hydrological components. Model calculated values of runoff and P − E were compared to a variety of data sources and show that the model's performance improves significantly with increased resolution, especially in regions with mountainous terrain. Corresponding future climate simulations (following the IPCC A2 scenario) were also performed and indicate that while resolution does not seem to have a significant effect on the qualitative impacts of future climate change on the hydrologic balance, quantitatively the results vary significantly among the models. These results suggests that high resolution global models, or downscaling models such as RCMs, are necessary in order to assess the magnitude of future changes in the hydrological components of these basins.

Domaines: Hydrologie; Climatologie

Nellie Elguindi, Samuel Somot, Michel Déqué, Wolfgang Ludwig. Climate change evolution of the hydrological balance of the Mediterranean, Black and Caspian Seas: impact of climate model resolution. Climate Dynamics, 2011, 36 (1-2), pp.205-228. ⟨10.1007/s00382-009-0715-4⟩. ⟨hal-01000123⟩