Climatic Data, Nature of the Data

CLIMATE MODELING IS the process of trying to create mathematical models that represent to the highest possible level of accuracy the circulation of wind in the atmosphere and the exchange of heat into and out of it. Since efforts at modeling began in the 19th century, those efforts have become increasingly complex and sophisticated, particularly in recent decades. Two factors have contributed to that increasing sophistication: first, the dramatic improvement in computational power; second, the huge increases in the range and coverage of data that may be used in data sets for analysis in models. As new data become available, they enable researchers to propose modifications to existing models, while proposals to extend models prompt efforts to find ways to obtain the data necessary to ...