Projections of actual and potential evapotranspiration from downscaled high-resolution CMIP6 climate simulations in Australia

Zhang, Hong; Chapman, Sarah; Trancoso, Ralph; Eccles, Rohan; Syktus, Jozef; Toombs, Nathan

doi:10.5194/hess-29-6863-2025

Articles | Volume 29, issue 23

https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-6863-2025

© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-6863-2025

© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Articles | Volume 29, issue 23

Research article

|

01 Dec 2025

Research article |

| 01 Dec 2025

Projections of actual and potential evapotranspiration from downscaled high-resolution CMIP6 climate simulations in Australia

Hong Zhang, Sarah Chapman, Ralph Trancoso, Rohan Eccles, Jozef Syktus, and Nathan Toombs

Supplement

https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-6863-2025-supplement

Data sets

Queensland Future Climate Dashboard: Downscaled CMIP5 climate projections for Queensland Jozef Syktus et al. https://www.longpaddock.qld.gov.au/qld-future-climate/data-info/tern/

Queensland Future Climate Dataset - Downscaled CMIP5 climate projections for RCP8.5 and RCP4.5, 1.0.2 Jozef Syktus et al. https://doi.org/10.25901/5e3ba30f141b7

Short summary

In this study we evaluate the performances of observation-based and climate model-based evapotranspiration estimations and project future changes for evapotranspiration in Australia. Our results show that climate models can provide reasonably accurate estimations, compared to observation-based estimations. This study offers new insights into future water loss and demand changes in Australia with implications for agriculture production, water security, and environmental management.