The Future Climate Change Projections for the Hengduan Mountain Region Based on CMIP6 Models

Cuihua Bian, Xinlan Liang (), Bingchang Li, Zhiqiang Hu, Xiaofan Min and Zihao Yue
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Cuihua Bian: College of Water Conservancy and Hydropower Engineering, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya’an 625014, China
Xinlan Liang: College of Water Conservancy and Hydropower Engineering, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya’an 625014, China
Bingchang Li: College of Water Conservancy and Hydropower Engineering, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya’an 625014, China
Zhiqiang Hu: College of Water Conservancy and Hydropower Engineering, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya’an 625014, China
Xiaofan Min: College of Water Conservancy and Hydropower Engineering, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya’an 625014, China
Zihao Yue: College of Water Conservancy and Hydropower Engineering, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya’an 625014, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 12, 1-26

Abstract: Amid accelerating global climate change, research quantifying the uncertainty of mountain ecosystems in relation to CMIP6 multi-model ensemble (MME) simulations remains limited. This study addresses this gap by evaluating future temperature and precipitation trends in the Hengduan Mountains and quantifying the uncertainty associated with CMIP6 MME outputs. Utilizing data from 11 CMIP6 climate models, bilinear interpolation was employed to standardize model resolution, while inverse distance weighting (IDW) interpolation was applied to assess spatial distribution patterns. To mitigate systematic biases, the multi-model ensemble mean approach was adopted. Through an equal-weight model selection strategy, EC-Earth3-Veg and MPI-ESM1-2-HR were identified as the optimal model combination for the region. Key findings include the following: (1) During the reference period (1985–2014), model simulations exhibited systematic biases, with temperatures underestimated by 0.46 ± 0.08 °C/month and precipitation overestimated by 2.07 ± 0.32 mm/month relative to observations. (2) In the future period (2031–2070), projected regional warming rates in typical years under SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, and SSP5-8.5 scenarios are −0.294 ± 0.021 °C/decade, 0.081 ± 0.009 °C/decade, and 0.171 ± 0.012 °C/decade, respectively. (3) Precipitation is projected to decline overall, with the most pronounced decrease under the SSP5-8.5 scenario (−0.68 ± 0.07%). This study is the first to systematically quantify CMIP6 model uncertainty in the Hengduan Mountains, revealing regional climate change trajectories, providing a scientific basis for formulating adaptive strategies, and identifying critical pathways for enhancing regional climate modeling efforts.

Keywords: CMIP6 models; Hengduan Mountain region; climate change; model evaluation; emission scenarios (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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