Lesson 8 Scientific Collaboration on Climate Change
Climate Technology
What technology is needed to study climate and climate change?
In order to make the most accurate predictions and study climate and climate change across the globe, scientists from different countries need to work together and share data. As more and more scientists are willing to share their data and work with other scientists, the predictions they are able to make about climate change become more and more accurate.
With this willingness to share data and research, the tools scientists are using are getting more and more advanced as well. This has also increased the accuracy of the predictions around climate change, as it helps scientists gain a better understanding about the factors affecting climate. A better understanding of these factors as well as better computers has allowed scientists to build complex models to use for future predictions. NASA also maintains a fleet of Earth science spacecraft and instruments in orbit to study all aspects of Earth. The information sent back to Earth from this fleet helps scientists observe the impacts of different factors and gives them more data to feed into their models, making those models even more accurate.
© NASA
D8.2 NASA’s Earth-observing satellites
D8.2 NASA’s Earth-observing satellites
© NOAA, via Wikimedia Commons
D8.3 The different parts of an atmospheric model such as a GCM
D8.3 The different parts of an atmospheric model such as a GCM
Currently, the most commonly used type of model is a general circulation model (GCM). All climate models use mathematical representations of the interactions between the different parts of climate and the laws of physics to predict what will happen to our global climate in the future, and the GCM is no different. Smaller models will focus on smaller geographical locations, and some scientists argue those models are actually more accurate.
The problem with the smaller models is that scientists would then have to put all the data from each of the smaller units together to get an idea of what will happen globally. Scientists need to think about the data they have and the question they are trying to answer before picking the model that will work best for them. It will not always be a GCM.
GCMs focus on the effects of changes affecting Earth’s energy balance, such as changes in insolation and albedo and thermal energy transfer in the atmosphere. By focusing on these key factors, the model can predict how our climate will react to different factors in the future. Using climate models is quite expensive though, so scientists often have to come together and share resources in order to use one.
GCMs focus on the effects of changes affecting Earth’s energy balance, such as changes in insolation and albedo and thermal energy transfer in the atmosphere. By focusing on these key factors, the model can predict how our climate will react to different factors in the future. Using climate models is quite expensive though, so scientists often have to come together and share resources in order to use one.
Did You Know?
© NASA
D8.4 NASA logo
D8.4 NASA logo
As of 2017, NASA has 15 missions operating to observe and record climate data with 7 more planned for 2018 and beyond.
Watch This
NASA’s vantage point to view Earth © NASA https://adlc.wistia.com/medias/h4re2e6480
No planet is better studied than the one we live on. This video will show you the highlights of NASA’s fleet of Earth science missions and spacecraft. With instruments in space, scientists can get data for the whole globe in detail they cannot get anywhere else.
Read This
Please read page 419 in your Science 10 textbook. Make sure you take notes on your readings to study from later. You should focus on the technologies that scientists use to study climate change and how scientists make them more accurate. Remember, if you have any questions or you do not understand something, ask your teacher!
Practice Questions
Complete the following practice questions to check your understanding of the concept you just learned. Make sure you write complete answers to the practice questions in your notes. After you have checked your answers, make corrections to your responses (where necessary) to study from.- What is the most common type of model used to predict changes in our future climate?
A general circulation model (GCM) is the most common model used.
- How do scientists increase the accuracy of the models they use?
They increase the accuracy of the models by using the most up-to-date data. This data mostly comes from observations from around the globe on Earth’s surface and by satellites in space. Scientists from different countries have to work together to share data to make sure the models have a comprehensive view of the global climate.
As our knowledge around climate and climate change increases, so does the accuracy of our models, as we can fine-tune them with the knowledge we have gained. Better technology and computers has also helped increase the accuracy of the models.