Enzo, where did your idea come from?
This tool was created to extract climate change projection data from CMIP6, the latest generation of global climate model outputs. While this data is publicly available, accessing the monthly projections can be complex and time-consuming without a dedicated tool.
What problem does your tool solve?
The tool extracts monthly climate projection data from NetCDF files and compiles the results into CSV files and Excel templates with monthly and annual analysis. Users select the data source, variables, emission scenarios and location through a user interface.
It currently supports two datasets: Queensland CCAM CMIP6 (which covers all of Australia) and NARCliM2.0 (which covers New South Wales and Victoria).
Queensland includes three emission scenarios (SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5 and SSP3-7.0), while NARCliM2.0 currently supports two (SSP1-2.6 and SSP3-7.0).
Can you explain your process, any challenges or unexpected discoveries?
The tool:
- Reads NetCDF files organised by year and climate model
- Extracts the relevant data for the selected location
- Compiles it into monthly and annual climate change projections for further analysis
One challenge came up during validation. Results from one of the NARCliM2.0 scenarios looked inconsistent compared to the others. After contacting the NARCliM team, they confirmed that this is a known issue with that dataset and that they’re currently working to fix it.
That scenario has been excluded from deliverables until the data is corrected.
Above: Projections of Potential Evapotranspiration (PET) under the SSP3 scenario
What stage is your tool at now, and what is planned for the future?
We’ve applied this tool on multiple active projects, and the outputs have been incorporated into GoldSim water balance models as climate change factors.
One important next step is developing a consistent framework for applying this data across projects. This tool gives access to the latest downscaled CMIP6 climate change data available for Queensland and New South Wales, and together with Daniel Livsey’s tool for extracting daily climate projections from multiple sources, they represent the next step towards a more complete approach to climate change assessment in our projects.