Climate Hydrology Assessment Tool


What's in the CHAT:

  • Statistically-downscaled LOCA, CMIP-5 GCM model outputs included in the CHAT are analyzed annually for the period available for analysis (1951-2099). Model outputs included in the tool are also analyzed comparatively by describing monthly, simulated changes between different epochs (time periods).
  • CHAT allows users to visualize annual streamflow, precipitation, and temperature time series model outputs and to perform simulated trend analysis for these annual time series. Annual model output is assessed for both a historic period (water years 1951-2005) and a future period (water years 2006-2099).
  • Additionally, the tool provides a visualization of epoch-based differences in simulated, monthly and annual historic versus future period streamflow, precipitation and temperature model outputs.Epoch-based change in is analyzed by determining the mean of the monthly/annual value for the variable of interest for each GCM for three epochs: baseline (water years 1976-2005), mid-century (water years 2035-2064), and end-century (water years 2070-2099). The difference between computed means is determined for both the baseline vs. mid-century and baseline vs. end-century epochs.
  • The CHAT includes robustness metrics which gives users insight into the inter-model robustness of the change projected for a selected variable. Robustness metrics provide an assessment of whether most GCMs agree on the direction of the future trend and whether most models agree that the future trend is significant relative to the historical variability.

Please cite the CHAT as follows: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. (28 January 2023). Climate Hydrology Assessment Tool (CHAT). Version 2.3. https://climate.sec.usace.army.mil/chat (accessed MONTH YYYY).

Tool Updates, December 2022

What’s new in the Climate Hydrology Assessment Tool v2.3:

  • New streamflow, precipitation and temperature variables are now included in the tool (see list of new variables above).

  • Addition of new interface to select desired 8-digit HUC watershed and stream segment for subsequent tabs.

  • All variables have the ability to visualize projections driven by 1) individual Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) 4.5 or 8.5 or 2) an overlay of the projections produced using RCP 4.5 on RCP 8.5 together on the same plot.

  • Users are able to view robustness metrics for mid-century and end-century model outputs for each each RCP scenario on the Modeled Time Series Explorer tab.

  • Users can compare baseline (historic) to mid-century (projected) and baseline (historic) to end-century (projected) values on a monthly and annual basis for streamflow, precipitation and temperature variables

Tool Introduction & Motivation

USACE took the first step toward developing policy and guidance around projected changes to climate hydrology and how these changes might affect water resources project planning, design, construction, operation and maintenance by releasing Engineering and Construction Bulletin (ECB) 2014-10, Guidance for Incorporating Climate Change Impacts to Inland Hydrology in Civil Works Studies, Designs, and Projects. This was superseded by ECB 2016-25, and then by ECB 2018-14, the current guidance.

The analysis required by ECB 2018-14 includes consideration of both past (observed) simulated changes, as well as future (projected) simulated changes to relevant hydrologic and meteorologic (i.e. precipitation and temperature) variables. To support this requirement, a web-accessible tool was developed to allow USACE staff to easily access Global Climate Model (GCM) based, projected, climate influenced, hydroclimatology. The techniques required to obtain GCM based, climate influenced hydroclimate can be cumbersome and the multiple steps required could introduce errors that might undermine the interpretation of results. CHAT allows users to develop repeatable analytical results using consistent information. In doing so, we reduce the potential for errors and increase efficiency, so that information can be used earlier in the decision-making process.

CHAT is targeted at providing a means of visualizing modeled, climate influenced hydroclimate in comparison to modeled, historic (hindcast) period hydroclimate. CHAT also provides for a basic statistical analysis of the datasets presented in tool. CHAT output can be applied to characterize the directionality of climate change impacts when characterizing future without project conditions (FWOP). Additionally, the tool generates report quality graphics that can be used to communicate climate change impacts consistently.

  • The Modeled Time Series Explorer tab provides a printable graphic displaying the range and mean of the modeled, historic and climate-changed conditions for the selected 8-digit HUC watershed and hydroclimate variable.
    • The tool displays the range of modeled outputs produced using 32 GCMs for both the simulated historical and future timeframe.
    • GCMs rely on scenarios representing different pathways to a given atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) referred to as representative concentration pathways (RCPs). RCPs describe the simulated change in radiative forcing at the end of this century, as compared with pre-industrial conditions.
    • Projected hydroclimate time series in CHAT are produced using two future scenarios: RCP 4.5 (where greenhouse gas emissions stabilize by the end of the century) and RCP 8.5 (where greenhouse gas emissions continue to increase throughout the century).
    • For streamflow, precipitation and temperature variables, the future values can be viewed for each RCP scenario separately or together overlaid on the same plot.
  • The Modeled Time series Trend Analysis tab provides a printable graphic of trendlines fit to the mean of the historical simulations and the mean of the projected future simulations of modeled hydroclimate variables included in the tool. Simulated trend line slope, as well as an evaluation of statistical significance is also provided within the Modeled Time series Trend Analysis Tab.
  • The Monthly Box Plots: Epoch-Based Changes tab provides a printable graphic that compares differences in the mean of a monthly streamflow, precipitation or temperature variable between the 1950-2005 historic epoch versus the mean computed for two future epochs. The epoch-based mean is computed across the simulation generated for each epoch produced by the 32 GCMs (32 time series). Separate comparisons are plotted using RCP 4.5 versus RCP 8.5.
  • The Annual Box Plots: Epoch-Based Changes tab provides a printable graphic that compares differences in the mean of a annual streamflow, precipitation or temperature variable between the 1950-2005 historic epoch versus the mean computed for two future epochs. The epoch-based mean is computed across the simulation generated for each epoch produced by the 32 GCMs (32 time series). Separate comparisons are plotted using RCP 4.5 versus RCP 8.5.

CHAT Variables Available for Analysis

Variables available for analysis in CHAT include:
  • Streamflow:
    1. Annual-Maximum of Mean Monthly Streamflow
    2. Annual-Mean 1-day Streamflow
    3. Annual-Streamflow Volume
    4. Change in Monthly Mean Streamflow
    5. Change in Monthly Accumulated Streamflow
    6. Change in Annual Mean Streamflow
    7. Change in Annual-Streamflow Volume
    8. Change in Annual-Maximum of Mean Monthly Streamflow
  • Precipitation:
    1. Annual-Maximum 3-day Precipitation
    2. Annual-Maximum 1-day Precipitation
    3. Drought Indicator: Annual-Maximum of Number of Consecutive Dry Days
    4. Annual-Accumulated Precipitation
    5. Change in Monthly Accumulated Precipitation
    6. Change in Monthly-Maximum 1-day Accumulated Precipitation
    7. Change in Monthly-Maximum 3-Day Accumulated Precipitation
    8. Change in Annual-Maximum 3-day Precipitation
    9. Change in Annual-Maximum 1-day Precipitation
    10. Change in Drought Indicator
    11. Change in Annual-Accumulated Precipitation
  • Temperature:
    1. Annual-Mean 1-day Temperature
    2. Annual-Maximum 1-day Temperature
    3. Annual-Minimum 1-day Temperature
    4. Change in Monthly-Maximum Temperature
    5. Change in Monthly-Mean Temperature
    6. Change in Monthly-Minimum Temperature
    7. Change in Annual-Mean 1-day Temperature
    8. Change in Annual-Maximum 1-day Temperature
    9. Change in Annual-Minimum 1-day Temperature

Model Output Methodology

A summary of model outputs used to populate the tool is listed below. For more information, please refer to the User Guide available in the Help tab.

  • Model outputs displayed in the tool is derived based on Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP-5) Global Climate Model (GCM) meteorological model outputs. GCM products are statistically downscaled using the Localized Constructed Analogs (LOCA) method.

  • Future, climate-changed hydroclimate is derived using Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) 4.5 and 8.5.

  • Streamflow model outputs: LOCA-downscaled meteorological outputs, derived from the GCMs, are translated into a hydrologic response using a Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC) macroscale hydrology model. Areal runoff and baseflow from the VIC distributed hydrology model are routed to and through the river network using mizuRoute. Flows displayed by CHAT are representative of the total flow for a selected stream segment of the mizuRoute routing network. Outflow from a given 8-digit HUC can be visualized by displaying results for the stream segment which transects the selected 8-digit HUC’s downstream boundary.

  • Precipitation model outputs: LOCA-downscaled accumulated daily precipitation model output is spatially aggregated to a 8-digit HUC resolution and then temporally aggregated in various ways. See the User Guide found in the Help tab for details on the spatial and temporal aggregation processing steps.

  • Temperature model outputs: LOCA-downscaled daily temperature model output is spatially aggregated to a 8-digit HUC resolution and then temporally aggregated in various ways. See the User Guide found in the Help tab for details on the spatial and temporal aggregation processing steps.

  • The 8-digit HUC shapefile used in this version of CHAT is current as of March 2016. If the 8-digit HUC boundary most relevant to your analysis has changed since 2016, please e-mail cprsupport@usace.army.mil for support.


This tab can be used to visualize and select a 8-digit HUC watershed or stream segment for analysis. Meteorological outputs are analyzed by 8-digit HUC. Stream segments aligned to a given 8-digit HUC watershed can be selected within this tab to produce segment based flow outputs.

Please Note: Some 8-digit HUCs do not have model outputs and some 8-digit HUCs do not have corresponding 8-digit HUC boundries. If 8-digit HUC is not found, contact CPR support (cprsupport@usace.army.mil) for specific inquiries about shapefiles and model outputs used in CHAT.

How to Interact: (all selections can be made through the dropdowns or interacting with the map)
  1. Select the 4-digit HUC code (HUC-4)
  2. Select the 8-digit HUC code (HUC-8)
  3. Select desired stream segment
  4. Click Submit Inputs under the map to update selections and generate plots in Modeled Time Series Explorer

1. Select 4-digit HUC

2. Select 8-digit HUC

3. Select Stream Segment






Climate Hydrology Assessment Tool v2.3


Please Note: Click Reload Plot below each time after variable selections or the RCP selection to refresh results.

Meteorological outputs are analyzed by 8-digit HUC. Segment based flow outputs correspond to the stream segment drainage areas.

Click Back to Study Location Selector to select a new 8-digit HUC watershed or stream segment.

Click here to view more information about the robustness metrics

Robust Signal, Positive

Robust Signal, Negative

Conflicting Signals

Weak Signal, Positive

Weak Signal, Negative

No Signal





About the CMIP5 Modeled Output

This tab displays three stacked figures each showing a streamflow, temperature, and precipitation variable. These figures display the mean of the annual (water year based) time series derived from 32 CMIP5 based Global Climate Models (GCMs). The figures also display the inter-model spread. In the figures the bold line represents the inter-model mean and the shaded area represents the inter-model range (the inter-model minimum to the inter-model maximum). Different color schemes are applied to differentiate between the different time-periods and RCPs being modeled. For both the historic period and the future period, hydroclimatic outputs are generated using simulated GCM outputs, thus CHAT output should not be directly compared to observations.

Streamflow Variable:
Runoff is displayed in CHAT for the selected stream segment. Output displayed represents the cumulative runoff from all upstream segments, as well as local runoff contributions which reach the selected segment.

Temperature and Precipitation Variables:
The temperature and precipitation variables are derived from statistically-downscaled LOCA, CMIP-5 GCM meteorological outputs that have been spatially aggregated to a 8-digit HUC resolution. They represent the temperature and precipitation modeled within a specific 8-digit HUC’s boundaries.

Climate Hydrology Assessment Tool v2.3

Simulated Trend Lines

Statistical Significance Tests (Historical)


Statistical Significance Tests (Future)



Please Note: Click Reload Plot below each time after variable selections or the RCP selection to refresh results. Users can remove trendlines from the graph by clicking on the title of the appropriate series in the legend. Once deselected, the associated line will be removed from the plot and the legend entry will be greyed out. To re-display click on the greyed out legend entry.

Meteorological outputs are analyzed by 8-digit HUC. Segment based flow outputs correspond to the stream segment drainage areas.

Click Back to Study Location Selector to select a new 8-digit HUC watershed or stream segment.





About the CMIP5 Modeled Output

The solid line in the figure represents the inter-model mean of the GCM based simulations associated with the modeled variable. The blue solid line represents the mean of the historical simulations and the gray solid line represents the mean of the future simulations. The dashed lines represent the trendlines fit to the model output using a simple linear regression model.

p-value Guidance

The p-values displayed below are reflective of the linear regression fit drawn above. A smaller p-value indicates greater statistical significance. The typically adopted threshold for statistical significance prescribed by the majority of statistical references is 0.05 is associated with a 5% risk of a Type I error or false positive. This is the threshold of significance applied by the CHAT.


** Indicates a statistically significant simulated trend (at the alpha = .05 level) was detected.



Please Note: Click Reload Plot below each time after variable selections to refresh results.

Meteorological outputs are analyzed by 8-digit HUC. Segment based flow outputs correspond to the stream segment drainage areas.

Click Back to Study Location Selector to select a new 8-digit HUC watershed or stream segment.








About the CMIP5 Modeled Output

Figures on this tab display the difference in mean simulated streamflow (Top), precipitation (middle) and temperature (bottom) variable values between two time periods or epochs. The simulated epoch-based changes are shown for the monthly means of the statistically-downscaled GCM meteorological outputs spatially aggregated by 8-digit HUC. Each figure is separated into two sub-plots arranged horizontally; these sub-plots display the simulated epoch-based changes from Base epoch to Mid-Century epoch (left) and from Base epoch to End-Century epoch (right). The box-and-whisker markers represent the inter-model range in simulated epoch-mean changes, i.e. the difference in the epoch-mean variable value between the base and future epoch for each month and each GCM, where the term "epoch-mean" indicates the mean of the monthly variable values within an epoch for a given model and are displayed for RCP 4.5 (red) and RCP 8.5 (blue). RCPs describe the simulated change in radiative forcing at the end of this century, as compared with pre-industrial conditions.


Please Note: Click Reload Plot below each time after variable selections to refresh results.

Meteorological outputs are analyzed by 8-digit HUC. Segment based flow outputs correspond to the stream segment drainage areas.

Click Back to Study Location Selector to select a new 8-digit HUC watershed or stream segment.








About the CMIP5 Modeled Output

Figures on this tab display the difference in mean simulated streamflow (Top), precipitation (middle) and temperature (bottom) variable values between two time periods or epochs. The simulated epoch-based changes are shown for the annual means of the statistically-downscaled GCM meteorological outputs spatially aggregated by 8-digit HUC. Each figure is separated into two sub-plots arranged horizontally; these sub-plots display the simulated epoch-based changes from Base epoch to Mid-Century epoch (left) and from Base epoch to End-Century epoch (right). The box-and-whisker markers represent the inter-model range in simulated epoch-mean changes, i.e. the difference in the epoch-mean variable value between the base and future epoch and each GCM, where the term "epoch-mean" indicates the mean of the annual variable values within an epoch for a given model and are displayed for RCP 4.5 (red) and RCP 8.5 (blue). RCPs describe the simulated change in radiative forcing at the end of this century, as compared with pre-industrial conditions.

Documents

USER GUIDE


If you have any questions or comments, please let us know by contacting our team: cprsupport@usace.army.mil

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