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Frequently Asked Questions

The following are common questions asked by those wanting to use climate data and information. Responses have been prepared by climatologists at GLISA.

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  1. I need information about climate change to plan for the future. What data can you provide me?
  2. I know I want downscaled climate projections, so where can I get them?
  3. What can you tell me about how climate is already changing in my area?
  4. Can you give me an overview of how you have presented information to other projects?
  5. How can a short narrative description be adequate?
  6. What is meant by "climate projection"?
  7. What are the different kinds of downscaled climate projections?
  8. How should I decide what kind of climate projection to use in my planning?
  9. When are downscaled projections appropriate to use?
  10. How much confidence can I have in a climate projection?
  11. What is a climate scenario?
  12. What is an ensemble of climate projections?
  13. What is an ensemble mean and is it a good measure of climate change?
  14. What are the different methods of statistical downscaling and what are the strengths/weaknesses?
  15. Can you give me downscaled climate projections/data for my immediate area?
  16. Where can I find more information about climate projections and how to use them in decision making?
  17. What are the major differences between the Special Report on Emissions Scenarios (SRES) and the Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP)?
  18. What is/are the difference(s) between global warming and climate change?
  19. What are the major natural and man-made components of the climate system and climate change that both SRES and RCP address?
  20. What are the major sources of energy in today's society (including non-renewable sources)?
  21. What does each RCP scenario say about the future use of renewable energy sources compared to non-renewable sources?
  22. What are the radiatve forcing projections of each of the four major RCPs, and what do these projections say about the general concentration of greenhouse gases from the present day-2100?

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