CMIP6 Frequently Asked Questions: A resource for water managers

The WUCA CMIP6 Working Group asked the authors to develop a CMIP6 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document for water managers which would assume little or no previous experience with CMIP6 and other climate-model datasets. The goal was to develop a dozen or so highly relevant questions — and clear responses — to aid in the use and interpretation of CMIP6 datasets, with a focus on the contiguous United States (CONUS). The FAQ questions were initially proposed by Working Group members, and then iteratively refined in collaboration with the Working Group, resulting in 13 questions. The document benefited considerably from reviews by the CMIP6 Working Group and by external subject matter experts. Each question has a “short answer” (1–2 paragraphs) and a “long answer” (2–5 pages), including figures where appropriate, recommendations for further reading, and other references. A glossary and reference list are also available at the end of the document.