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It provides a set of guiding principles that underpin the use of UKCP09. It supports use of all components of the UKCP09 package, which collectively offers users a resource to support climate impacts, vulnerability and adaptation assessments.

It provides examples of potential uses of UKCP09 data sources and products. This information is presented with the intention of providing exemplars that can inform users' decisions on what they could use from within UKCP09 and providing a guide on how the available data sources and products can and should not be used.

It is intended to be an evolving resource, which will be periodically revised as new functionality is added and our understanding grows. This evolution will also occur as existing examples are updated and new ones are added as a result of users continuing to share their experiences and lessons learned.

The UKCP09 user guidance is a new resource and one that can be used, along with other UKCIP tools, when undertaking a climate impacts, vulnerability or adaptation assessment. The UKCP09 User Guidance explores the use of the climate information with reference to other UKCIP resources such as the risk, uncertainty and decision-making framework, local climate impacts profile and the socio-economic scenarios.

It does not explain or justify the science behind climate change or the development of the UKCP09 projections. This information is available in the UKCP09 science reports, (for example in chapter 3 in the Projections report) or elsewhere in the climate science literature, including the IPCC AR4.

As understanding the methodology and assumptions is essential to properly using UKCP09 and interpreting conclusions this guidance includes embedded links to relevant information within the relevant UKCP09 science reports.

It presents different strategies and approaches to using UKCP09 outputs, along with their associated strengths and weaknesses (see UKCP09 in practice). It also includes information and examples of inappropriate use, along with suggestions of alternative appropriate uses. This strategy supports the notion that there is no single correct way of using UKCP09.

It is not intended to suggest that UKCP09 is the only, or in some cases the best, source of climate information for every impacts, vulnerability or adaptation assessment (for example when looking at adaptation over the next decade). See this FAQ for more information.

A decision to use UKCP09 or to use an alternative set of climate information should be made carefully. This decision should be based on a clear understanding of the methodology and assumptions used in constructing the projections, as well as an understanding of how these could affect the potential use and resulting conclusions. The UKCP09 guidance does not include this type of information for alternative projections.