dataset · Europe

CORDEX regional climate model data on single levels

This catalogue entry provides Regional Climate Model (RCM) data on single levels from a number of experiments, models, domains, resolutions, ensemble members, time frequencies and periods computed over several regional domains all over the World in the framework of the Coordinated Regional Climate Downscaling Experiment (CORDEX). The term "single levels" is used to express that the variables are 2D-matrices computed on one vertical level which can be surface (or a level close to the surface) or

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Source details

Licence: other

Evidence quality: 43.4

Listed in cds public catalogue API on 2026-10-16; relevance/value screened (haiku).

Metadata checked: 2026-10-14T13:20:00.000Z

What's in it

Data offered docs-verified: 10m wind speed · 10m u- and v-component of the wind · 200hPa u- and v-component of the wind · 850hPa u- and v-component of the wind · 500hPa geopotential height · 2m temperature · Maximum 2m temperature in the last 24 hours · Minimum 2m temperature in the last 24 hours · 2m relative humidity · 2m specific humidity · Mean precipitation flux · Mean evaporation flux · Total run-off flux · Mean sea level pressure · Surface pressure · Surface solar radiation downwards · Surface thermal radiation downward · Surface upwelling shortwave radiation · Total cloud cover · Orography (time-independent) · Land area fraction (time-independent)
Coverage docs-verified: 14 CORDEX regional domains covering regions across the World, including the European domain · Evaluation experiments: up to 1979 to 2019; historical experiments: up to 1948 to 2010; RCP scenario experiments: up to 2006 to 2101
Resolution docs-verified: 0.11°×0.11° (European domain) to 0.44°×0.44°, varying by domain; time steps 3h, 6h, daily, monthly and seasonal
Update frequency docs-verified: Quarterly
Formats docs-verified: NetCDF4
Access docs-verified: CDS account login (Login/Register shown on page); licence: CORDEX licence, with unrestricted commercial use except simulations from BOUN-RegCM4-3 (Central Asia and MENA domains) and RU-CORE-RegCM4-3 (South-East Asia domain)

Useful for

Use cases llm-inferred: Regional rainfall and temperature change factors for drainage strategy sensitivity tests using RCP scenario runs · Flood risk climate-change context: precipitation and run-off trends from RCP 4.5 and 8.5 ensembles · Bias check of RCM outputs against observed gauge or station records using evaluation runs driven by reanalysis
Audience llm-inferred: hydrologists · flood consultants · drainage engineers · climate adaptation consultants · GIS analysts

Limitations

Constraints llm-inferred: Time ranges are stated as 'Up to'; typical periods are about 1980-2010 (evaluation), 1950-2005 (historical) and 2006-2100 (scenarios), so check each experiment in the CDS form · Two RCMs (BOUN-RegCM4-3 and RU-CORE-RegCM4-3) have commercial-use exceptions · Grid spacing of 0.11° (about 12 km) over Europe is coarser than UK-specific downscaled products, so local catchment work may need finer data · Several QA checks are marked 'QA Not Passed', including versioning and archiving, uncertainty, interoperability, scientific basis and user guidance · Only single-level 2D variables are included; multi-level fields are excluded · Driving GCMs are from CMIP5 with RCP forcings, not CMIP6 or SSP scenarios · Many experiment, model, ensemble and resolution combinations must be selected manually; the dataset is large

Evidence

Check upstream coverage, uncertainty and licence before use. Station observations are not forecasts or design levels.