Convection-permitting regional climate simulations in the Arabian Gulf Region using WRF driven by bias-corrected GCM data

The regional climate of the Arabian Gulf region is modeled using a set of simulations based on the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model, including a 30-yr benchmark simulation driven by reanalysis data, and two bias-corrected Community Earth System Model (CESM)-driven (BCD) WRF simulations for retrospective and future periods that both include 10-yr convection-permitting nested simulations. The modeled precipitation is cross-validated using Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission data, rain gauge data, and the baseline dataset from the benchmark simulation.

The changes in near-surface temperature, precipitation, and ambient conditions are investigated using the BCD WRF simulations. The results show that the BCD WRF simulation well captures the precipitation distribution, the precipitation variability, and the thermodynamic properties. In a warmer climate under the RCP8.5 scenario around the year 2070, the near-surface temperature warms by ~3°C. Precipitation increases over the Arabian Gulf, and decreases over most of the continental area, particularly over the Zagros Mountains.