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Your location: Home > Adaptation > Nairobi Work Programme > Knowledge Resources and Publications |
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Compendium on methods and tools to evaluate impacts of, and vulnerability and adaptation to, climate
change
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Statistical DownScaling Model (SDSM)
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Description
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SDSM is a user-friendly software package designed to implement statistical downscaling methods to
produce high-resolution monthly climate information from coarse-resolution climate model (GCM)
simulations.
The software also uses weather generator methods to produce multiple realizations (ensembles) of
synthetic daily weather sequences.
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Appropriate Use
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SDSM can be used whenever impact assessments require small-scale climate scenarios, provided quality
observational data and daily GCM outputs for large-scale climate variables are available.
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Scope
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All locations
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Key Output
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Site-specific daily scenarios for maximum and minimum temperatures, precipitation, humidity. SDSM
also produces a range of statistical parameters such as variances, frequencies of extremes, spell
lengths.
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Key Input
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Quality observed daily data for both local-scale and large-scale climate variables to calibrate and
validate the statistical model(s). Daily GCM outputs for large-scale variables for future climate to
drive the model(s). The current version (4.2) contains observed data libraries for use in model
calibration, and GCM data for making future projections.
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Ease of Use
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The user-friendly software is largely self explanatory. It comes with comprehensive instructions for
use.
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Training Required
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Requires little training for those familiar with climate science but it requires expert knowledge and
reiterated efforts to establish realistic and accurate statistical relationships.
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Training Available
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There are currently no plans for any training courses
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Computer Requirements
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SDSM 4.2 has been tested on the following minimum specifications: PC Windows 98/NT/2000/XP (it may
also work on Windows 95 but has not been tested on this OS); Memory - 5 MB RAM, 48 MB ROM; Processor
- 133 MHz; Coding language - Visual Basic 6.0. Note: for older machines SDSM may work but may
crash or take longer to perform certain analyses when large data sets are processed.
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Documentation
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Numerous publications in the scientific literature. User’s manual at 
https://co-public.lboro.ac.uk/cocwd/SDSM/SDSMManual.pdf.
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Applications
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Widely applied in many regions and over a range of climate impact sectors. See References (below)
for examples of applications.
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Contacts for Framework, Documentation, Technical Assistance
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New users can register and download the software package at https://co-public.lboro.ac.uk/cocwd/SDSM/.
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Cost
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Free
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References
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Please see https://co-public.lboro.ac.uk/cocwd/SDSM/refs.html
for a full list of SDSM references.
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