RCP Database

The “RCP Database” aims at documenting the emissions, concentrations, and land-cover change projections of the so-called “Representative Concentration Pathways” (RCPs). A handshake document between the Integrated Assessment and Climate Modeling community coordinated the data provided as input for the “Coupled Model Intercomparison Project” 5 (CMIP5). The final RCPs have been documented in a Special Issue that was published in 2011. Version 2.0 of the database includes harmonized and consolidated data for the RCPs. This comprises emissions pathways starting from identical base year (2000) for BC, OC, CH4, Sulfur, NOx, VOC, CO and NH3. In addition, harmonized well-mixed GHG emissions of the RCPs have been added for the period 2005 to 2100. Radiative forcing and concentrations of GHGs are given for the RCPs up to the year 2100, and are extended for climate modeling experiments to 2300 (ECPs). Wherever available, historical information is provided back to the year 1850.