CMIP6 Historical Simulations, model CESM2 (NCAR)

This dataset features a selection of variables generated by the NCAR-CESM2 Earth system model as part of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6).

The data covers the historical simulation period 1850–2014. Unlike future projections, this experiment utilizes observed time-varying external forcings to reconstruct the climate evolution of the industrial era.

The data is distributed in a compressed Zarr format with near-zero precision loss. It features a daily temporal resolution and is structurally optimized for high-throughput regional assessments and time-series analysis.

How to download the data

It's required to before running the code snippet below.
1import xarray as xr
2
3xr.open_dataset(
4    "https://data.earthdatahub.destine.eu/cmip6/NCAR-CESM2-historical-r1i1p1f1-day-gn-v0.zarr",
5    storage_options={"client_kwargs":{"trust_env":True}},
6    chunks={},
7    engine="zarr",
8)
9

Variables

Short NameUnitsDescription
pr
kg m-2 s-1

Precipitation

tas
K

Near-Surface Air Temperature

hurs
%

Near-Surface Relative Humidity

huss
1

Near-Surface Specific Humidity

rlds
W m-2

Surface Downwelling Longwave Radiation

rlus
W m-2

Surface Upwelling Longwave Radiation

rlut
W m-2

TOA Outgoing Longwave Radiation

rsds
W m-2

Surface Downwelling Shortwave Radiation

clt
%

for the whole atmospheric column, as seen from the surface or the top of the atmosphere. Includes both large-scale and convective cloud.

hfls
W m-2

The surface called "surface" means the lower boundary of the atmosphere. "Upward" indicates a vector component which is positive when directed upward (negative downward). The surface latent heat flux is the exchange of heat between the surface and the air on account of evaporation (including sublimation). In accordance with common usage in geophysical disciplines, "flux" implies per unit area, called "flux density" in physics.

hfss
W m-2

The surface sensible heat flux, also called turbulent heat flux, is the exchange of heat between the surface and the air by motion of air.

prc
kg m-2 s-1

at surface; includes both liquid and solid phases.

rsus
W m-2

The surface called "surface" means the lower boundary of the atmosphere. "shortwave" means shortwave radiation. Upwelling radiation is radiation from below. It does not mean "net upward". When thought of as being incident on a surface, a radiative flux is sometimes called "irradiance". In addition, it is identical with the quantity measured by a cosine-collector light-meter and sometimes called "vector irradiance". In accordance with common usage in geophysical disciplines, "flux" implies per unit area, called "flux density" in physics.

sfcWind
m s-1

near-surface (usually, 10 meters) wind speed.

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