Added value of EURO-CORDEX high-resolution downscaling over the Iberian Peninsula revisited – Part 1: Precipitation

Abstract. Over the years, higher-resolution regional climate model simulations have emerged owing to large increase in computational resources. The 12 km resolution from Coordinated Regional Climate Downscaling Experiment for European domain (EURO-CORDEX) is a reference, which includes larger multi-model ensemble at continental scale while spanning least 130-year period. These are computationally demanding but do not always reveal added value. In this study, recently developed regular gridded dataset and new metric value quantification, distribution (DAV), used assess precipitation of all available EURO-CORDEX hindcast (1989–2008) historical (1971–2005) simulations. This approach enables direct comparison between runs against their forcing global or ERA-Interim reanalysis with respect probability density functions. assessment performed Iberian Peninsula. Overall, important gains found most cases, particularly extremes. Most models above 15 %, namely wintertime, extremes values 20 % reached summer autumn. As models, although pairs display gains, forced by two general circulation (GCMs) losses, sometimes around −5 lower, entire year. However, spatialization DAV clear terms precipitation, well 100 %.