1. WP3.10 : Cross-assessment of CCI-ECVs over the Mediterranean domain
Recent progresses:
Extension of the confrontation with CCI-Sea level over the Mediterranean area : analysis of three coupled regional simulations (CNRM-RCSM, LMDZ-MED, MORCE-MED) and one Mediterranean Sea simulation (MED12) from the Med-Cordex multi-model ensemble.
Communication of results at the 9th HyMeX Workshop, (Mykonos, September, 2015).
Submission of a publication entitled: « Improving the representation of Mediterranean sea level in regional climate models » (Adloff et al.).

2. Regional models over the Mediterranean domaine: the two CNRM models
CNRM-RCSM4
MED12
Atmosphere
Ocean
Ocean
ALADIN-Climat
ALDERA*
ORAS4
Corrected with the mean annual cycle of the CCI-ECV Sea Level
COMBINE
The CNRM-RCSM4 model is a regional climate system model coupling the atmospheric component ALADIN-Climat and the Mediterranean Sea component NEMOMED8 (resolution of 1/8°).
The MED12 model is a new version of the NEMOMED Mediterranean sea model at a resolution of 1/12°.
ALDERA results from the dynamical downscaling of ERA-interim usind the ALADIN-Climat model.
The COMBINE ocean reanalysis used for the relaxation of the ocean component in the Atlantic buffer-zone doesn’t include satellite data assimilation.
ORAS4 includes satellite data assimilation (AVISO) and is here corrected with the mean annual cycle of the CCI-ECV Sea Level over the period (underestimated in ORAS4).
NEMOMED8
NEMOMED12
Relaxation in the Atlantic buffer zone towards ocean reanalyses (COMBINE and corrected ORAS4)

3. Mean seasonal cycle of Mediterranean sea level over the period 1993-2010 (mm/yr)
The ensemble of sea level datasets for comparison (grey shading labelled « OBS-REANA ») include:
the CCI-ECV ; the ORAS4 global ocean reanalysis (Balmaseda et al., 2013) and two Mediterranean sea level reconstructions (Meyssignac et al., 2009; Calafat et al., 2011) 5
Adloff et al., 2016

4. Correlation between detrended time series and CCI_ECV 1993-2008
Correlation on detrended timeseries with CCI-ECV for the common period
Adloff et al., 2016

5. Trends of sea surface height anomalies over the period 1993-2010 (mm/yr)
Trends of SSH anomalies over the period (in mm/yr). Results from the RCSM4 model (top) are diagnosed from the free surface model calculation. They are compared with SSH CCI SSH (bottom).
Adloff et al., 2016

6. WP3.10 : Cross-assessment of CCI-ECVs over the Mediterranean domain
Some conclusions:
The Mediterranean mean sea level is strongly influenced by the Atlantic conditions and thus the quality of the information in the lateral boundary conditions is crucial for the good modelling of Mediterranean sea level.
The regional differences inside the basin that are induced by circulation changes are model-dependent and are not affected by the LBC.
Correct Atlantic conditions from global circulation models should be used to project future Mediterranean sea level change.
The error estimate of regional CCI sea level trends (3mm/year) seems overestimated.

7. WP3.10 : Cross-assessment of CCI-ECVs over the Mediterranean domain
Future plans:
Complete the analyse of the performances of the models by confronting the mean, the variability and the trends of a subset of variables inferred from the CCI-ECVs and from the simulations (Aerosols, soil moisture, SST)
Analyse the consistency between different ECVs through the analysis of a climate specific event: possibly the 2006 heat wave.