| a logger is an electronic piece of equipment that is | | | | a certain day then that would be weather |
| set to record information over a period of time. | | | | forecasting. Therefore, the climate model does |
| By recording information over a certain time | | | | not have the ability to weather forecast. |
| period, people can compare data to check | | | | However, climate trends are weather averaged |
| recurring patterns. They are usually based on a | | | | out over a specific amount of time commonly 30 |
| digital processor or computer that is set to record | | | | years. Thus, trends are important because they |
| the data. A data logger is usually small, | | | | eliminate or 'smooth out' individual events that |
| battery-powered, portable and has a | | | | may be extreme. |
| microprocessor with an internal memory for | | | | Climate models must be checked to see if they |
| storing information and sensors. | | | | work. Most people cannot wait for 30 years to |
| Data logging is used in many kind of places. One | | | | see if the model is any good. Therefore, climate |
| of the places where data logging is used a lot is in | | | | models are tested against the past where we |
| weather forecasts. Many weather people read the | | | | know what happened. If the model can predict |
| weather using electronic devices. They record the | | | | accurately what happened in the past then it |
| weather over a period of time and compare the | | | | should be able to predict accurately what is going |
| results. | | | | to happen in the future. |
| When trying to find information about the | | | | All climate models are tested first by a process |
| weather over a long period of time then a | | | | known as Hind-casting. Therefore, the models |
| calibration service can be very helpful. Climate | | | | used can predict any future global warming and |
| models do not perform well when describing the | | | | precisely map previous climate changes. If they |
| clouds, dust, chemistry and biology of farms, | | | | are accurate with the past then they should be |
| fields and forests. The models tend to agree | | | | able to predict correctly for the future. Testing |
| more or less with the observed information. | | | | models against current instrumental record |
| However, there is nothing that suggests that the | | | | suggested that CO2 must cause global warming, |
| same fudge factors would provide the correct | | | | since the models could not simulate events that |
| behaviour in a world of different chemistry. | | | | had already occurred unless the additional CO2 |
| Climate models study the way the atmosphere, | | | | was added to the model. |
| oceans, land, surface, ice and the sun | | | | When models have been running for a long time, |
| communicate. This job is very complicated, so | | | | they have proved to make precise predictions. An |
| models are constructed to estimate the trends | | | | example of this would be, the Mt. Pinatubo |
| rather than the events. An example of this would | | | | eruption that allowed modellers to check the |
| be, the climatemodel tells you when it is cold in | | | | accuracy of models by feeding information about |
| the winter months, but it cannot accurately tell | | | | the eruption. Therefore, the model correctly |
| you the temperature on a certain day. | | | | predicted the climatic response after the eruption. |
| If the climate model told you the temperature on | | | | |