nexgddp_change_cum_precipitation_2000_2080
created_on
2023-05-04T13:11:58.897310
updated_on
2023-05-04T13:11:58.897311
geographic_coverage
Global
citation
Gassert, F., E. Cornejo, and E. Nilson. 2021. “Making Climate Data Accessible: Methods for Producing NEX-GDDP and LOCA Downscaled Climate Indicators” Technical Note. Washington, DC: World Resources Institute. Available online at https://www.wri.org/research/making-climate-data-accessible. [www.resourcewatch.org](https://www.resourcewatch.org/).
We acknowledge the World Climate Research Programme's Working Group on Coupled Modelling, which is responsible for CMIP, and we thank the climate modeling groups for producing and making available their model output. The U.S. Department of Energy's Program for Climate Model Diagnosis and Intercomparison provides coordinating support and development of software infrastructure in partnership with the Global Organization for Earth System Science Portals for CMIP.
Climate scenarios used were from the NEX-GDDP dataset, prepared by the Climate Analytics Group and NASA Ames Research Center using the NASA Earth Exchange, and distributed by the NASA Center for Climate Simulation (NCCS).
title
Projected Change in Cumulative Precipitation
license
[Attribution Required](https://www.wri.org/publications/permissions-licensing)
overview
The Projected Change in Cumulative Precipitation dataset shows the change in annual average total precipitation at ten year intervals between 2000 and 2080, compared to a baseline time period of 1960-1990. The data shown at each ten year interval represents a 31-year average, centered around the indicated year. For example, the total precipitation in 2000 is actually an average of the cumulative precipitation between the years 1985 and 2015. Precipitation projections are based on the future greenhouse gas emission rates determined by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC’s) Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP) 8.5. RCP 8.5 is a hypothetical scenario where there is no decrease in greenhouse gas emission rates within the 21st century. Cumulative average precipitation is divided by the baseline average to calculate the projected change. Values greater than 1 indicate that cumulative precipitation is increasing, while values less than one indicate that the number is decreasing. Data is presented at a spatial resolution of 0.25°.The increase in global greenhouse gas concentrations, and resulting change in climate, is set to fundamentally alter our relationship with the planet, impacting agriculture, infrastructure, disaster management, and human conflict. In order to anticipate and adapt to these changes, the Projected Change in Cumulative Precipitation dataset provides projections on how precipitation patterns are likely to change in the coming decades. Precipitation changes are projected to be more varied across the world, generally showing increases in mean precipitation in high-latitude regions and a pole-ward shift of subtropical arid regions. In addition, precipitation is projected to occur in fewer, but more intense events. Except in the few areas that are projected to see substantial drying, historically extreme precipitation events are expected to become more frequent worldwide. Even as precipitation increases, dry periods are projected to increase in length and frequency.This dataset has been processed by Vizzuality and the World Resources Institute using the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Earth Exchange Global Daily Downscaled Projections (NEX-GDDP). The NEX-GDDP dataset is intended to assist the scientific community in conducting studies of climate change impacts at local to regional scales, and to enhance public understanding of possible future global climate patterns at the spatial scale of individual towns, cities, and watersheds. A previous version of this dataset was processed and produced by the [Partnership for Resilience and Preparedness (PREP)](https://prepdata.org/), aiding in PREP’s mission to build resilience to climate change by improving access to climate data.
function
Projected change in annual cumulative precipitation
cautions
- Some GCM perform better than others in recreating regional climate patterns, such as monsoons, in hindcasts. For specific applications, it may be appropriate to select individual models based on regional performance.
- The downscaling approaches used to produce these indicators inherently assume that the relative spatial patterns in temperature and precipitation will remain constant under future climate change. Dramatic shifts in global weather patterns, such as the slowing or reversal of major air and ocean currents are possible, but will not be captured in these indicators.
- The historical data used for downscaling varies in quality across the world. In particular, areas that have short records or sparse coverage of in situ weather observations may have reduced accuracy.
- Because GCM are developed by independent research teams and incorporate different assumptions and mechanisms, it is likely that they cover a substantial range of probable futures. We provide both low and high estimates so that users can see and evaluate this likely range of outcomes.
key_restrictions
Attribution Required
tags
geospatialglobalrasterfuturetime_periodclimateclimate_changeprecipitationannual
why_added
Adding to MapBuilder
learn_more
https://www.wri.org/research/making-climate-data-accessible
id
03a99b85-0fe9-45c2-aa15-ddfdb03de694