Precipitation in the EURO-CORDEX 0.11∘0.11∘ and 0.44∘0.44∘ simulations: High resolution, high benefits?

This study investigates whether the fine-gridded regional climate models are found to add value to the simulated mean and extreme daily and sub-daily precipitation compared to their coarser-gridded 0.44∘(∼50km)0.44∘(∼50km) counterparts.

Therefore, pairs of fine- and coarse-gridded simulations of eight reanalysis-driven models are compared to fine-gridded observations in the Alps, Germany, Sweden, Norway, France, the Carpathians, and Spain. A clear result is that the 0.11∘0.11∘ simulations are found to better reproduce mean and extreme precipitation for almost all regions and seasons, even on the scale of the coarser-gridded simulations (50 km). This is primarily caused by the improved representation of orography in the 0.11∘0.11∘ simulations and therefore largest improvements can be found in regions with substantial orographic features.