CRCM5-CMIP6

Canadian Regional Climate Model V5 driven by CMIP6 global climate models (CRCM5-CMIP6)
 

This ensemble is the only one freely accessible to be produced from a regional climate model driven by the CMIP6 generation global models (1950-2100) and by the ERA5 reanalysis (1979-2020), over the whole of North America.

Thanks to its resolution of 0.11° (approximately 12 km) and the use of several greenhouse gas emission scenarios, the MRCC5-CMIP6 ensemble makes it possible to explore various facets of climate change. It also helps to broaden the range of climate products and phenomena available to support efforts to support climate change adaptation efforts.
 

The ensemble comprises: 

  • four pilots (CanESM5, CNRM-ESM2-1, MPI-ESM-1-2-LR, NorESM-MM)

  • four SSPs (1-2.6, 2-4.5, 3-7.0 and 5-8.5*)

  • up to five members per pilot and one SSP (MPI-ESM-1-2-LR-SS370)

The data made available include 2D, hourly, 3-hourly and daily variables over the whole of North America. Other (3D) variables will be made available at a later date.

*SSP5-8.5 was used only for one pilot, CanESM5

Regional and global climate models, CMIP and SSP ensemble

Visit the Ouranos Climate Modeling page to find out more about regional and global climate models, the CMIP6 ensemble and SSPs.

To learn more

Figure 1: Hourly precipitation simulated by the CRCM5 driven by CanESM5 over North America at 0.11° resolution.

Why use this ensemble of simulations?

  • A high-resolution climate change signal: Regional climate models are physical climate models based on fluid mechanics. They are used in the dynamical downscaling of global climate models for a chosen region or, in other words, to refine the spatial resolution of global models in order to make climate variables and phenomena compatible with the spatial scale used in adaptation processes. That means the climate change signal is produced at the scale of regional simulations. 

  • Many variables available: Around 20 variables are already accessible at different time resolutions (hourly, every 3 hours and daily), offering a wealth of analysis possibilities. The dynamical downscaling approach ensures that several climate variables are consist in time and space. Easy access to around fifty other variables will be available in the coming months. 

  • An exploration of low-probability but high-impact climate conditions: Some of the simulations in this ensemble allow for the study of unlikely but high-impact climate conditions, as well as post-2100 climates. This is made possible by the use of drivers with high climate sensitivity, as well as the use of the SSP5-8.5 socioeconomic pathway for one of these drivers. Although this pathway characterized by high greenhouse gas emissions becomes less plausible as low-cost clean energy is developed, it remains useful for analyses of high-risk climate change impacts.   

  • An investigation of natural climate variability: With the aim of better estimating and understanding climate change at the regional scale, a component dedicated to natural variability has been integrated into the ensemble. This is based on using five members of the MPI-ESM1-2-LR model as a driver while maintaining a single socioeconomic pathway (SSP3-7.0).  The five members differ in the modifications made to the initial conditions used to start each of the MPI simulations. This diversity of initial conditions makes it possible to examine natural fluctuations in the climate over several decades and to distinguish them from the global warming signal linked to the increase in greenhouse gas emissions.

For further informaion

Reference articles CRCM5: CRCM5 : Martynov, A. et al. (2013) ; Šeparović, L. et al. (2013)

Short description of the CRCM5-CMIP6 simulation ensemble: Paquin et al. (2024) 

Full article : Paquin, D., C McCray, C. B. Gauthier, M. Giguère, O. Asselin, P. Bourgault, M.-P. Labonté and D. Matte. The CRCM5-CMIP6 Ouranos’ ensemble: A Dynamically-Downscaled Ensemble of CMIP6 Simulations over North America. To be submitted.

Data access

  • Les variables les plus demandées de l'ensemble MRCC5-CMIP6 sont accessibles sur PAVICS via THREDDS.  

  • Les variables complémentaires sont accessibles sur demande pour l’instant, et le seront via un nœud GLOBUS public d’ici quelques mois.  

  • Seules les données des simulations complétées et validées sont d’ores et déjà disponibles. Certaines simulations sont encore en production (membres 4 et 5 du MPI-ESM1-2-LR et SSP370 – NorESM-MM) et seront rendues disponibles prochainement. 

The CRCM5 was developed by UQAM's Centre pour l'étude et la simulation du climat à l'échelle régionale (ESCER) in collaboration with Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC).

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