High-Resolution Climate Scenario Maps for Europe under SSP5-8.5: Near-, Medium- and Long-Term Projections

This dataset presents a collection of 48 high-resolution climate scenario maps for Europe developed within the Horizon Europe STECCI project (Stone Monument Ensembles and the Climate Change Impact, Grant Agreement No. 101094822). The maps provide spatial representations of projected seasonal climatic conditions under the SSP5-8.5 scenario, representing a high greenhouse gas emissions pathway. The projections cover three future time horizons: Near-term: 2021–2040 Medium-term: 2041–2060 Long-term: 2081–2100 For each projection period, the dataset includes seasonal maps (spring, summer, autumn and winter) of four climatic variables: Average air temperature (°C) Average maximum air temperature (°C) Average minimum air temperature (°C) Average precipitation (mm) The maps are associated with the STECCI Digital Climate Atlas, whose underlying spatial analyses were developed at a resolution of 600 × 600 m, providing substantially finer spatial detail than the 10 × 10 km resolution originally envisaged in the project. These climate projections support the assessment of future environmental pressures on European cultural heritage, particularly stećci medieval tombstones and other limestone monuments. They provide a spatial basis for examining changes in thermal conditions and precipitation patterns relevant to heritage vulnerability, deterioration processes and climate adaptation planning. The dataset contributes to the project's climate change assessment activities under Work Package 2 and supports the development of evidence-based preservation guidelines.