Statistical downscaling of regional climate models in Bulgarian mountains and some projections

Abstract

Air temperature and precipitation data from three high mountainous Bulgarian stations were used as well as outputs from nine regional climate models (RCMs) for air temperatures and eight RCMs for precipitation. Data from 40-year experiments driven by the ERA-40 reanalysis (temporal coverage from 1961 to 2000) of the ECMWF were employed for calibration of statistical downscaling models. Statistical methods were used in this research—Spearman and Pearson correlation, Mann–Whitney test, multiple linear regression, generalized linear models, etc. Projections, based on SRES A1B scenario and RCMs driven by four different GCMs, were made for the following future 30-years periods: 2005–2034, 2035–2064, and 2065–2094. RCMs ETHZ-CLM, DMI-ARPEGE-HIRHAM, HadRM3Q0, and HadRM3Q16 show the best correlation with observed air temperatures in mountain stations. RCMs ETHZ-CLM, HadRM3Q16, and RACMO have the best relationship with precipitation. Constructed monthly multiple linear regression models describe well enough air temperatures throughout the entire year. Monthly GLMs describe better precipitation in January, March, August, and September, as well as peak Musala and Cherni vrah precipitation. Projections for future 30-year periods indicate that air temperatures are expected to rise by 2065–2094 at all of the three investigated stations with 2.8 to 3.2 °C. This increase is mainly due to the summer months. Annual precipitation amounts are expected to decrease by the period 2065–2094 at all the three stations with about 7 to 17 %. Some increase of annual precipitation amounts in the beginning of twenty-first century against the general negative trend could happen at Musala station, which is probably due to the increase in frequency of liquid precipitation.