DMP Section Type:
Data Input - Existing Collection
Description:
The California Basin Characterization Model (BCM) climate dataset provides historical and projected climate surfaces for the state at a 270 meter resolution. The historical data is based on 4 kilometer PRISM data, and the projected climate surfaces are based on the A2 and B1 scenarios of the PCM and GFDL GCMs, and A1B scenario of CSIRO and MIROC. The BCM approach uses a regional water balance model based on high resolution downscaled precipitation and temperature as well as elevation, geology, and soils to produce surfaces for a wide range of variables. These variables include maximum temperature, minimum temperature, precipitation, potential evapotranspiration, runoff, recharge, climatic water deficit, actual evapotranspiration, sublimation, soil water storage, snowfall, snowpack, snowmelt, and excess water. Data is distributed as 30-year monthly summaries and 30-year water year summaries, with month-by-month data for each year available by special request.
Source:
Flint, L.E. and Flint A.L. 2012. Downscaling future climate scenarios to fine scales for hydrologic and ecologic modeling and analysis. Ecological Processes 1:2. Available online at: http://www.ecologicalprocesses.com/content/1/1/2
Processing & Workflow:
Downscaled GCM variables precipitation, maximum summer temperature, minimum winter temperature, potential evapotranspiration and climatic water deficit were used as input variables to the FORE-SCE land use-land cover change model.
Climatic water deficit and ratio of recharge to runoff were averaged by HUC-8 hydrologic unit for each scenario and 30-year water year summaries.
Sum of recharge and runoff was defined as total water availability, and was combined with data on critical habitat in each HUC-8 unit to produce a map of water-wildlife hotspots.
Recharge and runoff were used as input variables to model streamflow for 6 key watersheds for two cases: no future urbanization and future urbanization.
Backup & Storage:
California Climate Commons, Information Center for the Environment, Davis, CA
Repository for Data:
California Climate Commons
Citation:
Flint, L.E. and Flint A.L. 2012. Downscaling future climate scenarios to fine scales for hydrologic and ecologic modeling and analysis. Ecological Processes 1:2. Available online at: http://www.ecologicalprocesses.com/content/1/1/2
