Working Group I: The Scientific Basis


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Appendix 10.4: Examples of downscaling studies.

Technique (utilised in the above categories):

  • WG = weather generators (e.g.: Markov-type procedures, conditional probability).
  • TF = transfer functions (e.g.: Regression, canonical correlation analysis, and artificial neural networks).
  • WT = weather typing (e.g.: cluster analysis, self-organising map, and extreme value distribution).

Predictor variables: C = circulation based (e.g.: sea level pressure fields and geopotential height fields).
T = temperature (at surface or on one or more atmospheric levels). TH = thickness between pressure levels.
VOR = vorticity. W = wind related. Q = specific humidity (at surface or on one or more atmospheric levels).
RH = relative humidity (at surface or on one or more atmospheric levels). Cld = cloud cover.
ZG = spatial gradients of the predictors. O = other.

Predictands: T (temperature); Tmax (maximum temperature); Tmin (minimum temperature); P (precipitation).

Region is the geographic domain.

Time is the time-scale of the predictor and predictand: H (hourly), D (daily), M (monthly), S (seasonal), and A (annual).

Region Technique Predictor Predictand Time Author (s)
Africa
South Africa
 TF C P D Hewitson and Crane, 1996
America
USA
 WT T Tmax, Tmin D Brown and Katz, 1995
USA
WG C P D Zorita et al., 1995
USA
WG, TF C, T, VOR P D Wilby and Wigley, 1997
USA
TF C, Q P D Crane and Hewitson, 1998
USA
WG, TF C, T, VOR T, P D Wilby et al., 1998a, b
USA
WG, WT C T, P D Mearns et al., 1999
USA
TF C, T, RH, W T D Sailor and Li, 1999
USA
WG   P D Bellone et al., 1999
Mexico and USA
TF C, TH, O P D Cavazos, 1997
Mexico and USA
TF, WT C, TH, Q P D Cavazos, 1999
Central Argentina
TF C, W T, Tmax, Tmin M Solman and Nuñez, 1999
Asia
Japanese coast
TF C Sea level M Cui et al., 1995, 1996
Chinese coast
TF   Sea level variability M Cui and Zorita, 1998
Oceania
New Zealand
WT C Tmax, Tmin, P D Kidson and Watterson, 1995
New Zealand
 TF C,TH,VOR,W T, P D Kidson and Thompson, 1998
Australia
 TF C Tmax, Tmin D Schubert and Henderson-Sellers, 1997
Australia
 TF C Tmax, Tmin D Schubert, 1998
Australia
 WT C, T P   Timbal and McAvaney, 1999
Australia
 WT       Schnur and Lettenmaier, 1999
Europe
Europe
WG VOR, W     Conoway et al., 1996
Europe
WG, TF C, P, Tmax, Tmin, O T, P D Semenov and Barrow, 1996
Europe
TF C, W, VOR, T, Q, O T, P M Murphy, 1998a, b
Europe
TF C T, P, vapour pressure D Weichert and Bürger, 1998
Germany
TF T Phenological event   Maak and vanStorch, 1997
Germany
TF C Storm surge M Von Storch and Reichardt, 1997
Germany
TF   Salinity   Heyen and Dippner, 1998
Germany
WT   Thunderstorms D Sept, 1998
Germany
TF   Ecological variables   Krönke et al., 1998
Iberian Peninsula
WG C P D Cubash et al., 1996
Iberian Peninsula
TF C Tmax, Tmin D Trigo and Palutikof, 1998
Iberian Peninsula
TF   T, P   Boren et al., 1999
Iberian Peninsula
TF   T, P   Ribalaygua et al., 1999
Spain (and USA)
TF C Tmax, Tmin D Palutikof et al., 1997
Spain (and USA)
TF C Tmax, Tmin D Winkler et al., 1997
Spain
WT     D Goodess and Palutikof, 1998
Portugal
TF C P M Corte-Real et al., 1995
Portugal
 WT C   D Corte-Real et al., 1999
The Netherlands
 WT C, VOR, W T, P D,M Buishand and Brandsma, 1997
Norway
TF C, O T, P and others M Benestad, 1999a, b
Norway (glaciers)
TF C, O Local weather D Reichert et al., 1999
Romania
TF C P M Busuioc and von Storch, 1996
Romania
TF C P M Busuioc et al, 1999
Switzerland
TF   P   Buishand and Klein Tank, 1996
Switzerland
 TF   P   Brandsma and Buishand, 1997
Switzerland
TF     D Widmann and Schär, 1997
Switzerland
WG C Local Weather H Gyalistras et al., 1997
Switzerland
TF   P   Buishand and Brandsma, 1999
Poland
TF C T, sea level, wave height, salinity, wind, run-off D,M Mietus, 1999
 
          
Alps
WT       Fuentes and Heimann, 1996
Alps
TF C, T T, P M Fischlin and Gylistras, 1997
Alps
WT C Snow   Martin et al., 1997
Alps
WT       Fuentes et al., 1998
Alps
TF C, T T, P,   Gyalistras et al., 1998
Alps,
TF C, T Snow cover   Hantel et al., 1998
Alps
WT C, T Landslide activity   Dehn, 1999a, b
Alps
WT   T, P D Heimann and Sept, 1999
Alps
WT   P D Fuentes and Heimann, 1999
Alps
TF, WG C, T Weather statistics M Riedo et al., 1999
Alps
TF C P M Burkhardt, 1999
 
          
Mediterranean
TF C, P T   Palutikof and Wigley, 1995
Mediterranean
TF C P S Jacobeit, 1996
North Atlantic
TF C Pressure tendencies M Kaas et al., 1996
North Atlantic
TF C Wave height M WASA, 1998
North Sea
TF   Ecological variables   Dippner, 1997a, b
North Sea coast
TF C Sea level M Langenberg et al., 1999
Baltic Sea
TF SLP Sea level M Heyen et al., 1996
Region not specified
  WT       Frey-Buness et al., 1995
  WT C     Matyasovszky and Bogardi, 1996
  WT       Enke and Spekat, 1997
  TF C, VOR, W     Kilsby et al., 1998
  TF   Ecological variables   Heyen et al., 1998
  TF   P   Biau et al., 1999
  WG P P D Wilks, 1999
  WT   P D Zorita and von Storch, 1999

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