Introduction of the creation of climate indicators
Hydroclimat collaborated with NamR, a DeepTech start-up specializing in the provision of multi-domain spatialized data, to meet a specific need: to develop spatialized indicators on the effects of climate change in mainland France and Corsica. The aim of the project was to provide comprehensive and accurate climate data to feed NamR’s DaaS/SaaS solutions. Here is a detailed presentation of the case study and its various stages.
Project context of the creation of climate indicators
NamR develops innovative solutions for various sectors, including local authorities, insurance, construction and finance. As part of the ecological transition, the company needed climate projections covering parameters such as temperature, precipitation, wind, sunshine, snow cover, atmospheric pressure, agronomy, marine dynamics and continental hydrology to feed its database. These data had to be adapted to various climate scenarios for the time horizons 2030, 2040 and 2050.
Hydroclimat, with its expertise in hydroclimatology and climate change, was asked to design indicators based on the latest scientific advances, in particular the CMIP6 ensemble with bias correction and denser spatial resolution, to guarantee their accuracy. The creation of climate indicators is an integral part of our service data changement climatique.
Project phases
This case study is structured in 5 stages, with the aim of producing a clear and precise climate data base covering France and Corsica.
1. Definition of parameters and objectives :
To begin with, we had to define the indicators needed to meet NamR’s requirements. We divided the indicators into eight different batches:
️🌡️ Temperatures
🌧️ Precipitation
💨 Wind
☀️ Sunshine
️🌨️ Snow
🌾 Agronomy
🌊 Marine dynamics
💧 Hydrology
Climate indicators were calculated for three SSP climate scenarios (SSP1-1.9, SSP2-4.5, SSP5-8.5) at a spatial resolution of 20 km.
2. Data collection and processing
The second phase of this case study consists of collecting and processing the raw climate data from the CMIP6 models, in order to subject them to a two-stage structured quality control:
- Metadata validation: Check information associated with data to identify and correct any errors.
- Comparison with reference observations: Assessment of discrepancies between climate simulations and historical observations, in order to correct biases.
Hydroclimat has mobilized advanced statistical methods to :
- Correct the biases inherent in climate models and eliminate inconsistencies.
- Increase the spatial resolution of data, guaranteeing greater accuracy and robustness.
- Ensure the quality and conformity of the indicators produced, by integrating descriptive statistics and spatialized analysis of results.
These steps enable us to provide climate data tailored to NamR’s specific needs, particularly in terms of reliability and resolution. This step is therefore crucial for the creation of climate indicators.
3. Creation of climate indicators
The aim of this third stage is to create climate indicators. Each set of indicators has been designed to provide a clear summary of climate risks. For example:
- For temperatures: analysis of heat waves and periods of frost.
- For precipitation: identification of flood risks associated with heavy precipitation.
- For hydrology: assessment of river and watershed dynamics.
These indicators, based on CMIP6 data, have been translated into spatialized exposure values, making it possible to visualize the most vulnerable areas in France.
4. Data mapping and visualization
Once the climate indicators have been created, we need to produce geolocalized climate indicator files in ESRI Shapefile format. These maps, tailored to the needs of end-users, provide an overview of climate hazards for each time horizon and climate scenario.
5. Integration into NamR solutions
The data supplied by Hydroclimat has been integrated into NamR’s DaaS (Data-as-a-Service) and SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) solutions, designed to provide high value-added geolocalized information. Thanks to the precision of the data and the robustness of the climate indicators produced, NamR has been able to enhance its offering with tools capable of anticipating climate impacts on different spatial and temporal scales.
After the creation of climate indicators, the data was structured to integrate easily with NamR’s platforms, enabling seamless use by local authorities, businesses and other end-users. The integration of this data has not only strengthened NamR’s ability to respond to climate issues, but has also enabled their customers to benefit from innovative, tailored solutions to meet the challenges of ecological transition.
What are the results of the c reation of climate indicators?
The creation of climate indicators has enabled Hydroclimat to provide its customer with an exhaustive and accurate climate database covering the whole of mainland France and Corsica. The creation of climate indicators has provided NamR with intelligible tools to anticipate climate risks and guide their customers’ strategic decisions.
Main benefits include :
- Simplified visualization of climatic risks thanks to geolocalized data.
- Improved accuracy of climate indicators through the use of advanced adjustment and correction methods.
- Dimensioning with business indicators adapted to the specific needs of local authorities, insurers and companies.
What are the expected prospects?
This creation of climate indicators paves the way for future collaborations between Hydroclimat and NamR & Addactis to extend climate indicators to new regions or other critical hazards, such as urban heat islands and flooding.
By combining scientific expertise and cutting-edge technology, Hydroclimat and NamR are establishing themselves as key players in helping companies and local authorities face up to the challenges of climate change.