Climate models are systems of differential equations based on the basic laws of physics, fluid motion, and chemistry. To “run” a model, scientists divide the planet into a 3-dimensional grid, apply the basic equations, and evaluate the results. Atmospheric models calculate winds, heat transfer, radiation, relative humidity, and surface hydrology within each grid and evaluate interactions with neighboring points. From: NOAA http://celebrating200years.noaa.gov/breakthroughs/climate_model/welcome.html
A US company has announced plans to build a massive, realistic, but totally uninhabited city to use for high tech tests. Good description of what goes into building a model.
Net Logo is a multi-agent programmable modeling environment. It is used by tens of thousands of students, teachers, and researchers worldwide. It also powers HubNet participatory simulations. It's free, runs on Macs and PCs, and has lots of simulations for you to choose from. A great teaching tool.
Award winning site with interactive materials that can be used to teach models and simulations. The Habitable Planet is a multimedia course consisting of 13 units. Each unit is composed of a thirty-minute video and an online text chapter. The web site acts as a home base to begin study, a place to organize the course materials. It provides access to all the course components plus additional resources, which include:
5 Interactive Lab Activities
Visuals: A compilation of animations and images used in the videos and textbook chapters
Scientist biographies, and edited transcripts from each of the video case study interviews
Full unit with interactive activities. Focuses on climate models and how they work. Includes videos, models the students can experiment with. Highly recommend.
'Only the Best' Videos and Podcasts
Alaskan Way Viaduct - Earthquake Simulation
This visualization shows the collapse of the Alaskan Way Viaduct, part of Washingtons State Route 99, and adjacent seawall due to a seismic event. The simulated earthquake is similar to the 2001 Nisqually earthquake but lasts longer, is closer to Seattle, or has a slightly greater magnitude. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hos_uIKwC-c
This article explains the use of simulations in F1 cars. Good explanation of how the technology enables visualization of airflow over the car. Use the two together.
NASA: Supercomputing the Climate
Outstanding visuals and good explanation of weather models and climate models, distinguishes the two. About 6 minutes.
Thank you to Omar Alvarez Badillo.
STRAND 2: Environment > Modelling and simulations
'Only the Best' Links
and simulations
and simulations
The Habitable Planet is a multimedia course consisting of 13 units. Each unit is composed of a thirty-minute video and an online text chapter. The web site acts as a home base to begin study, a place to organize the course materials. It provides access to all the course components plus additional resources, which include:
'Only the Best' Videos and Podcasts
This visualization shows the collapse of the Alaskan Way Viaduct, part of Washingtons State Route 99, and adjacent seawall due to a seismic event. The simulated earthquake is similar to the 2001 Nisqually earthquake but lasts longer, is closer to Seattle, or has a slightly greater magnitude.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hos_uIKwC-c
Technology Power F1 Williams Team
This article explains the use of simulations in F1 cars. Good explanation of how the technology enables visualization of airflow over the car. Use the two together.
Outstanding visuals and good explanation of weather models and climate models, distinguishes the two. About 6 minutes.
Thank you to Omar Alvarez Badillo.
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