Validation of Seasonal Forecasts over the Mediterranean Basin Using Ground Based and Satellite Data
Redaelli, Gianluca; Grassi, Barbara; Visconti, Guido
University of L'Aquila, ITALY

This study aims to analyze the skill, and the added value compared to global simulations, of regional climate model hindcasts of surface temperatures in the Mediterranean Basin. The dataset consist of retrospectively run seasonal climate forecasts, calculated by forcing the RegCM4.1 (Regional Climate Model version 4) with global IRI (International Research Institute for Climate and Society) data from ECHAM4.5 ensemble forecasts, to obtain an higher resolution (60 km) ensemble (24 members) covering the European domain over the 2007-12 period. Model forecast simulations will be compared over lands, coastlines and sea to local temperature soundings and Level 2 (L2) AATSR (Advanced Along-Track Scanning Radiometer) and MODIS (Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) Sea Surface Temperature (SST) products.