Original paper
Future drought probabilities in the Greater Alpine Region based on COSMO-CLM experiments – spatial patterns and driving forces
Haslinger, Klaus; Schöner, Wolfgang; Anders, Ivonne
Meteorologische Zeitschrift Vol. 25 No. 2 (2016), p. 137 - 148
48 references
published: May 9, 2016
published online: Apr 4, 2015
manuscript accepted: Nov 11, 2014
manuscript revision received: Nov 11, 2014
manuscript revision requested: Aug 27, 2014
manuscript received: Apr 1, 2014
Open Access (paper may be downloaded free of charge)
Abstract
In this study we assess future drought probabilities in the Greater Alpine Region based on four regional climate model simulations with COSMO-CLM forced by ECHAM5 and HadCM3 under different emission scenarios. As a drought indicator, the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index is applied. The evaluation of a hindcast run show reasonable skill of the CCLM in simulating the evolution of dry and wet phases, although decreasing skill towards the East of the Alpine domain is apparent. The results of the scenario investigations indicate a considerably higher probability for droughts averaged over the study region, but with rather diverse patterns north and south of the Alps. This signal is mainly emerging from the warm season months, whereas in winter nearly no change is detected. By differentiating between precipitation and temperature as the driving forces of the considerable drying trends in summer we found precipitation as the relevant driver north of and in the Alps, whereas we detected that temperature, as a proxy for evapotranspiration, is the main factor for the southern and eastern areas.
Keywords
drought • Regional Climate Modelling • Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index • Greater Alpine Region • climate scenarios