Climate models have no answer to burning questions

By: Declan Butler

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<h1>Climate models have no answer to burning questions</h1>
<h4>By: Declan Butler</h4>
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<p><P>The heatwave that is currently scorching Europe has revealed flaws in regional climate models, according to researchers interviewed by <em>Nature</em>. </P><br />
<P>Global climate models, made up of data points in a three-dimensional grid stretching from the ocean depths to the stratosphere, can be very accurate. But their detail is not fine enough to allow equally accurate regional models to be made. </P><br />
<P>For that, researchers say they need more funding and a better understanding of the processes behind extreme-weather processes. This understanding would also help them assess whether or not current heatwaves are a sign of global warming.</P><br />
<P><a href="http://www.nature.com/login/scidev_login.taf?ref=/nature/journal/v424/n6951/full/424867a_fs.html" target="_blank" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/tracking/external/'+this.href);" rel="noopener noreferrer">Link to news story in <em>Nature</em></A></P>Reference: <em>Nature</em> 424, 867 (2003)</p>

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<p>This article was originally published on <a href="https://www.scidev.net" target="_blank">SciDev.Net</a>. Read the <a href="https://www.scidev.net/global/news/climate-models-have-no-answer-to-burning-questions/" target="_blank">original article</a>.</p>
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The heatwave that is currently scorching Europe has revealed flaws in regional climate models, according to researchers interviewed by Nature.

Global climate models, made up of data points in a three-dimensional grid stretching from the ocean depths to the stratosphere, can be very accurate. But their detail is not fine enough to allow equally accurate regional models to be made.

For that, researchers say they need more funding and a better understanding of the processes behind extreme-weather processes. This understanding would also help them assess whether or not current heatwaves are a sign of global warming.

Link to news story in Nature

Reference: Nature 424, 867 (2003)