What is it about?
This is a top-down review of the computer models used to predict and study Earth's weather and climate. The components of these models are described, without getting into technical details, as is the structure of the formal international collaborations used to coordinate and optimize the improvement and testing of new model components.The review includes predictions of possible modeling trends for the near and distant future.
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Why is it important?
The central role played by Earth's atmosphere can be grasped by recognizing: i) it is the only component of the Earth system astronauts must carry with them when venturing to space, and ii) there are no other accessible, habitable planets for us besides Earth.
Perspectives
Earth is best viewed in the context of the other planets of the Solar System, and this includes modeling the global weather and climate. The planets provide excellent stress tests of Earth atmospheric models, and comparative planetology should be promoted in every facet of weather and climate modeling.
Professor Timothy E. Dowling
University of Louisville
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Earth General Circulation Models, January 2013, University of Arizona,
DOI: 10.2458/azu_uapress_9780816530595-ch009.
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