Why

Realistic representations of climate and hydrology depend on the appropriateness of the spatial and temporal resolutions used. While finer-resolution information is often desired, highly-localized climate data may not be appropriate or possible. This is because information (e.g., observations) may be lacking, but it may also be a matter of making appropriate tradeoffs. Increasing resolution to better resolve local-scale features (e.g., capture processes that relate to finer-scale topography) requires considerably more computing resources, which limits the amount of other evaluations possible. In other words, finer resolution has an opportunity cost that should be considered.

This DON'T will provide considerations for determining approaches more relevant to particular impacts and geographies, including cautions on limitations for information producers and users.