SimCLIM is a tool designed to support climate change decision making in a number of situations and sectors. The model allows for linking of user input data and models with global climate scenarios, and assessing various projected global changes and extreme event probabilities in the future, as well as current variability and extremes. The program allows for importing spatial and time-series data into a GIS viewer, and contains data from many different GCM runs and scenarios, such as SRES emissions scenarios.
This toolbox entry has been labelled with the following tags:
| Sector: | agriculture; health; coasts; water management | |
| Spatial scale: | independent | |
| Temporal focus: | present; future | |
| Onset: | independent | |
| Role in decision process: | diagnostic | |
| Level of skills required: | limited | |
| Data requirements: | modest | |
| Adaptation tasks: | Detection and attribution; Potential impact projection |
As mentioned above, SimCLIM is able to be used to describe current climate baselines, variability, and extremes, as well as to generate and analyze future climate scenarios, assessing climate risks and adaptation options, and examining uncertainties. The GIS viewer allows for analysis at different spatial scales, from global to local, but uncertainties depend on both scenarios involved as well as the resolution of input data. There is also an ability to use location-specific tools to analyze time series point data and impact models. The key output of SimCLIM is the ability to analyze scenarios of climate and sea-level changes, as well as sectoral impacts, mainly for water, ecosystems, agriculture, health, and coastal zone issues.
While SimCLIM provides both observed climate data as well as GCM runs and scenario inputs, the model requires various inputs at either national or local scales, depending on the user's application goals. The program allows for importing of spatial and time-series data. The software itself is very accessible to use, and training sessions can be attended. There are no specific requirements for using the tool, however the program requires a license, which may be purchased on an individual basis.
A user's guide for SimCLIM, plus access to the tool, can be found at:
http://www.climsystems.com/simclim/
Warrick, R.A. and G. Cox. 2007. New developments of SimCLIM software tools for risk based assessments of climate change impacts and adaptation in the water resource sector. InM. Heinonen (ed.), Proceedings of the Third International Conference on Climate and Water. Helsinki, Finland, 3-6 September 2007. SYKE, Helsinki, p. 518-524.
Warrick, R.A. In press. From CLIMPACTS to SimCLIM: the Development of an Integrated Model for Assessing Impacts and Adaptation to Climate Change and Variability. In C.G. Knight and J. Jaeger (eds.), Integrated Regional Assessment: Challenges and Case Studies. Cambridge University Press, UK.
Warrick, R.A., W. Ye, P. Kouwenhoven, J.E. Hay and C. Cheatham. 2005. New Developments of the SimCLIM Model for Simulating Adaptation to Risks Arising from Climate Variability and Change. In Zerger, A. and Argent, R.M. (eds.) MODSIM 2005. International Congress on Modeling and Simulation. Modeling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand, December 2005, pp. 170-176.
Warrick, R.A. 2006. Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation in the Pacific: Recent Breakthroughs in Concept and Practice. In Chapman, R., Boston, J. and Schwass, M. (eds.) Confronting Climate Change: Critical Issues for New Zealand. Wellington: Victoria University Press.
Warrick, R.A. 2007. SimCLIM: Recent Developments of an Integrated Model for Multiscale, Risk-based Assessments of Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation. Proceedings of the 2007 ANZSEE Conference on Re-inventing Sustainability: A Climate for Change, held 3-6 July 2007, Noosaville, Queensland, Australia, http://www.anzsee.org/2007conference/conference_papers.asp
