A daily time-step observed and scenario climate dataset on a European grid for crop modelling applications (version 3)

Abstract: The data set contains daily time-step observed and scenario climate data on a European grid with 25 km x 25 km spatial resolution and is intended to be used for crop modelling applications. The dataset covers the period 1980-2010 for observations (for a baseline period of 1981-2010 and the year 1980 for crop model simulations with sowing dates in the autumn) and the periods 2040-2069 and 2070-2099 for 5 GCMs x 2 forcing scenarios (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5) and 2 GCMs with RCP2.6. The Joint Research Centre’s (JRC) Agri4Cast gridded dataset was used for the baseline. The scenarios have been calculated using an enhanced delta change method that applies changes in aspects of temperature and precipitation variability in addition to changes in mean climate.

Methods: The structure of the single tables refers to the gridcode of the model, for example the gridcode 35120 fits the location 35_120. This means the gridcode column is 120, the row 35. The explanation can be found in the properties of the kml file or the associated grid file. The dataset was generated by applying a “delta change factor” based on GCM outputs for RCP scenarios corresponding to the periods: 2040 until 2069 and from 2070 until 2099. As the “delta change factor” for these periods was applied to baseline observations for the period of 1.1.1980 to 31.12.2010, the dates for the respective scenario periods are still 1.1.1980 to 31.12.2010, due to the fact they are scenarios (ie, what would climate be relative to baseline climate). Pragmatically this avoids issues with different alignment of leap years between baseline and scenario periods. This is standard practice in climate data. Users of the data can adjust the dates as needed for their application.

Series Information: Version 3 (DOI: https://www.doi.org/10.4228/zalf.vjcp-vep3; consisting of 9220 grid cells) replaces two earlier versions by updating the method to estimate vapour pressure and dew point temperature and by expanding the study region to include Switzerland, Lichtenstein, the Balkan region and Kaliningrad. The Two older versions of the dataset are available: Version 1 (DOI: https://www.doi.org/10.4228/ZALF.DK.59; consisting of 8709 grid cells) that was used by Webber et al. (2018), and an updated version 2 (DOI: https://www.doi.org/10.4228/ZALF.DK.94; consisting of 8748 grid cells) that corrected an error in version 1 when accounting for altitude differences to agricultural cultivation areas. It is recommended to use the latest version 3, unless the data of version 1 are intended to be used for direct comparison with the results of Webber et al. (2018), https://www.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018-06525-2.

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