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Regionally averaged CMIP6 climate projections for Australia from the Queensland Future Climate Science Program 

Ver: 1.0
Status of Data: completed
Update Frequency: asNeeded
Security Classification: unclassified
Dataset Published: 2026-08-13
Dataset Last Modified: 2026-08-18
Metadata viewed 3 times
Dataset accessed 0 times
Metadata Created: 2026-05-01
Metadata Last Modified: 2026-08-19
How to cite this collection:
Owens, D. & McGloin, R. (2026). Regionally averaged CMIP6 climate projections for Australia from the Queensland Future Climate Science Program. Version 1.0. Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network. Dataset. https://dx.doi.org/10.25901/e2bv-es88 
Data can be accessed from the following links:
OPeNDAPReginally averaged CMIP6 Climate projections
HTTPPoint-of-truth metadata URL
HTTPro-crate-metadata.json
The effects of climate change will vary in both space and time across Australia’s regions. Understanding this variation is important for assessing climate change impacts and informing adaptation decisions. The regionalisation procedure used by the Queensland Future Climate Program transforms climate projections data into useful and operational insights at the regional level. The process is performed by spatially averaging Queensland’s latest Future Climate projections across selected Australian region types (LGAs, River Basins and NRM regions). The Queensland Future Climate projections are based on dynamically downscaled Global Climate Model (GCM) simulations from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6). The downscaled model simulations provide a continuous dataset from 1960 to 2100, capturing the historical baseline and the projected future under SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5 and SSP3-7.0 emissions scenarios. The resulting spatially averaged mean-climate and extreme indices projections have been released in three CSV data formats, each designed for specific applications. Indices cover extremes such as heatwaves, extreme temperatures, extreme rainfall, droughts, wetness, and fire weather (FFDI). Results are presented as average anomalies from baseline (1995-2014) values. 
Credit
We at TERN acknowledge the Traditional Owners and Custodians throughout Australia, New Zealand and all nations. We honour their profound connections to land, water, biodiversity and culture and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging. 
Purpose
Regionally averaged climate projections dataset for Australia regions (LGAs, River Basins and NRM regions) (CSV files) have improved spatial resolution and an expanded range of indices to better capture the complexities of regional climate change. The available indices cover hazards such as heatwaves, extreme temperatures, extreme rainfall, droughts, wetness, and fire weather. Climate and extreme indices change values relevant to specific regions, making the data more useful for local planning and decision-making. 
Lineage
Data not provided. 
Method DocumentationData not provided.
Procedure StepsData not provided.
Spatial Description
Australia-wide modelled indices (10km CCAM). Shapefiles from Digital Atlas, Climate Change in Australia and Geoscience Australia. 
Temporal Coverage
From 1960-01-01 to 2100-01-01 
Spatial Resolution

Distance of 10000 Metres

Vertical Extent

Data not provided.

Data Quality Assessment Scope
Data quality checks were conducted using automated scripts to ensure the integrity of the dataset. These scripts verified the presence of the correct number of files, that the files were the correct number of rows and columns, checked for missing values and NANs, and cross validated values with those for the same location in an independent dataset. Suspicious data were thoroughly investigated and corrected as necessary. 
Data Quality Report
Data not provided. 
Data Quality Assessment Outcome
Data not provided. 
ANZSRC - FOR
Climate change science
Data Stream
Climate and Bioclimate
GCMD Sciences
ATMOSPHERIC/OCEAN INDICATORS - EXTREME DROUGHT
ATMOSPHERIC/OCEAN INDICATORS - EXTREME PRECIPITATION
ATMOSPHERIC/OCEAN INDICATORS - HEAT/COLD WAVE FREQUENCY/INTENSITY
CLIMATE CHANGE RESPONSES - CLIMATE ADAPTATION
LAND SURFACE/AGRICULTURE INDICATORS - FOREST FIRE DANGER INDEX
Horizontal Resolution
10 km - < 50 km or approximately .09 degree - < .5 degree
Parameters
average duration of extreme drought
average duration of extreme wetness
average duration of moderate drought
average duration of moderate wetness
average duration of severe drought
average duration of severe wetness
average heatwave duration
consecutive dry days
consecutive wet days
extremely wet day precipitation
Food and Agriculture Organisation reference evapotranspiration
frequency of extreme drought
frequency of extreme wetness
frequency of moderate drought
frequency of moderate wetness
frequency of severe drought
frequency of severe wetness
heatwave frequency
heatwave peak heat index
maximum 1-day precipitation
maximum 5-day precipitation
maximum heatwave duration
maximum near-surface air temperature
mean temperature
minimum near-surface air temperature
net downward solar radiation at surface
number of high fire weather days
number of moderate fire weather days
number of very high fire weather days
number of 95th Percentile fire weather days
number of 99.7th Percentile fire weather days
number of cold nights
number of extreme fire weather days
number of hot days
number of hot nights
number of low fire weather days
number of very hot days
percent time in extreme drought
percent time in moderate drought
percent time in period of extreme wetness
percent time in period of moderate wetness
percent time in period of severe wetness
percent time in severe drought
precipitation amount
relative humidity
simple daily intensity index
surface wind speed
synthetic class A pan evaporation
Project
Queensland Future Climate Science Program
Temporal Resolution
Annual
Topic
climatologyMeteorologyAtmosphere
Author
Owens, David
Co-Author
McGloin, Ryan
Contact Point
Owens, David
Publisher
Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network
Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network
80 Meiers Road, Indooroopilly, Queensland, 4068, Australia.
Contact Us
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
The Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license allows others to copy, distribute, display, and create derivative works provided that they credit the original source and any other nominated parties. Details are provided at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 
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Please cite this dataset as {Author} ({PublicationYear}). {Title}. {Version, as appropriate}. Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network. Dataset. {Identifier}.