Informations et ressources scientifiques
sur le développement des zones arides et semi-arides

CORDIS (Service Communautaire d’Information sur la Recherche et le Développement) Commission Européenne

Titre : ITHACA medITerranean HydroclimAte variability over the Common erA

Région : Méditerranée

Code du projet : 101024389

Durée : 1 September 2022 // 1 September 2022

Objectif
The Mediterranean region is known for its high seasonal contrast in temperature and rainfall, subject to extreme hydroclimatic events (e.g. droughts and pluvials). In most Mediterranean regions, water resources are scarce and observational data and climate models suggest a transition to an even more arid climate is underway. Uncertainties in future climate change projections over the Mediterranean region still remain, however, thus demanding an understanding of the natural range of climate variability prior to the era of significant anthropogenic interference in the climate system. The ITHACA’s goal is to advance the understanding of paleoclimate over the Mediterranean basin to the point where it can inform policy and decision-making about the risks of climate change from a paleo perspective and place future projections within a broad historical context. This project will investigate the characteristics (frequency, intensity, extent, seasonality) and causes of hydroclimate extremes (droughts and pluvials) during the Common Era (CE, the last two thousand years) over the Mediterranean region by developing a state-of-the-art paleo data assimilation product, which will effectively combine high-resolution paleo proxy-data time series with the physical constraints of an atmosphere-ocean climate model simulation. Finally, by using this new product the project will address the attribution of anthropogenic activities to current changes in hydroclimatic extremes and will provide guidance for process-based risk assessment tools

Descriptif
In much of the Mediterranean region, water resources are scarce and observational data and climate models suggest that the area is becoming even more arid. The EU-funded ITHACA project will investigate the causes of extremes in hydrology and climate during the last two thousand years in the Mediterranean basin. It will develop a state-of-the-art paleo data assimilation product that combines high-resolution paleo proxy-data time series with an atmosphere-ocean climate model simulation. This new product will attribute anthropogenic activities to current changes in hydroclimatic extremes and provide guidance for process-based risk assessment tools. Furthermore, ITHACA will inform policy and decision-making about the risks of climate change from a paleo perspective and place future projections within a broad historical context.

Participants au projet
Coordinateur : AGENCIA ESTATAL CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS

Budget
Coût total : € 160 932,48
Contribution UE : € 160 932,48

CORDIS