HR: 1340h
AN: A43B-1156    [Abstracts]
TI: Estimating climate model systematic errors in a climate change impact study of the Okavango River basin, southwestern Africa using a mesoscale model
AU: * Raghavan, S V
EM: s.raghavan@ucl.ac.uk
AU: Todd, M
EM: mtodd@geog.ucl.ac.uk
AB: Simulating the impact of future climate variability and change on hydrological systems requires estimates of climate at high spatial resolution compatible with hydrological models. Here we present initial results of a project to simulate future climate over the Okavango River basin and delta in Southwestern Africa. Given the significance of the delta to biodiversity and as a resource to the local population, there is considerable concern regarding the sensitivity of the system to future climate change. An important component of climate variability/change impact studies is an assessment of errors in the modeling suite. Here, we attempt to quantify errors and uncertainties involved in regional climate modelling that will impact on hydrological simulations. The study determines the ability of the MM5 Regional Climate Model to simulate the present day regional climate at the high resolution required by the hydrological models and the effectiveness of the RCM in downscaling GCM outputs to study regional climate change and impacts.
DE: 0429 Climate dynamics (1620)
DE: 0466 Modeling
DE: 1620 Climate dynamics (0429, 3309)
SC: Atmospheric Sciences [A]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting