From complexity to clarity: making sense of climate data

Imagine trying to predict the exact position of a tennis ball after you hit it. How many factors will influence the trajectory that it will follow? Your strength on that particular shot, the wind direction, the wind speed, the type of racket and more.

If that is difficult, imagine trying to predict the behaviour of Earth’s climate – a system where complex interactions occur between the atmosphere, oceans, ice sheets and living organisms.

This is the challenge climate scientists face every day and the tools they use are climate models. These models produce simulations of the climate to help us anticipate changes and prepare for what lies ahead.

In a new report published on our website, we explore how climate models work, their limitations and uncertainties and how to select the appropriate model for different use cases. Written in easy-to-understand language, the report provides non-experts with a valuable guide to the art of the possible using different sources of climate data. Download the report here