Comparison of spatial and temporal performance of two Regional Climate Models in the Amazon and La Plata river basins

This study aims to present a comprehensive spatio-temporal performance analysis of two water balance variables, precipitation and evapotranspiration, simulated by Regional Climate Models (RCM) multi-model ensembles. We evaluate simulations from RCMs the Coordinated Downscaling Experiment in largest hydrological basins South America, Amazon River basin La Plata basin. Information was analyzed at 0.5°x0.5° resolution, compared with their driving Global (GCM) Coupled Intercomparison Project (CMIP5) reference datasets observations reanalysis for period 1986–2005. Spatial temporal model metrics were calculated monthly datasets, annual scale. Annual cycles spatial distribution mean fields are well represented RCMs, whereas empirical frequency distributions reveal discrepancies lower frequencies. In terms quantitative showed that better RCA4 only RegCM4 offers added value respect GCM. Statistical variability assessment presented over both RCMs. Over basin, is RegCM4, opposite occurs evapotranspiration differences. According overall results metrics, ensemble shows even though number members smaller.