CIRCE climate models

The main novel feature of the six CIRCE climate models is the incorporation of a realistic representation of the Mediterranean Sea including coupling between the Sea and atmosphere. These simulations (summarised below) provide the principle source of information about future climate for the CIRCE case studies.

CIRCE climate models: summary description

 Model acronym

Type of model, and boundary forcing
Spatial resolution of the atmospheric component

CNRM

Stretched grid global model

50 km over the Mediterranean

INGV

Global model
~80 km

IPSL1

Regional model. Forcing from an IPSL GCM
(non-CIRCE) run
30 km

IPSL2

Global + regional model

30 km

ENEA

Regional model.
Forcing from an ECHAM5 GCM (non-CIRCE) run
30 km

MPI

Regional model. Forcing from INGV
25 km

An overview ‘Information sheet on future climate: Climate projections for the CIRCE case studies’ has been produced, covering projections for mean temperature, temperature extremes, annual and winter precipitation for each case study.