NA-CORDEX-CMIP6

NA-CORDEX-CMIP6 advances the resolution of the NA-CORDEX archive from 25-50 km CMIP5-era simulations to 12 km downscaling of CMIP6-era GCMs. Historical simulations span 1953-2014 (beginning in 1953 to allow adequate land-surface spin-up), and future simulations run 2015-2099. An evaluation run driven by the ERA5 reanalysis running 1980-2023 is also available.

Model configuration: Simulations use the WRF regional atmospheric model over a 708 by 674 gridpoint domain with 38 vertical levels and a 50 hPa model top. Greenhouse gases and aerosols are prescribed according to SSP2-4.5 and SSP3-7.0. The land surface model is Noah-MP, using four vertical soil levels and USGS land-use categorization.

The configuration also includes a single-level urban canopy model and a 1-dimensional lake model. Full configuration details and the software suite used for post-processing are available at github.com/NCAR/NA-CORDEX-CMIP6. Diagnostics and derived indices: Most extreme-weather diagnostics are computed online during the WRF simulations using the built-in AFWA diagnostics package.

Additional heat indices (UTCI and WBGT) were calculated during post-processing using the Python package "thermofeel". For wind-energy applications, zonal and meridional wind components are provided at 50, 100, and 150 m above ground level. Variables are supplied at hourly frequency where possible, and 6-hourly otherwise.