- The development is quickly moving forward. When we started the climate modeling research in Sweden in the 90s we could make a few decade-long climate simulations. Now we make many more simulations, and they can extend over a hundred years and further, says Markku Rummukainen. He is a professor in climatology and leads the strategic research area MERGE, specifically focusing on climate models.
The rapid development of climate models depends partly on the increasing computer capacity, and the growing understanding of the climate system processes. More and more parts of the climate system have been included in the models, much like putting together the pieces that gradually completes the picture of a puzzle. The first models were simple atmospheric models. Since then, additional aspects are added: ocean and sea ice, atmospheric particles, the carbon cycle, atmospheric chemistry and vegetation.
Read the full article on climate models and the interview with Markku Rummukainen in the LUM, Lund University Magazine (in Swedish)
Advanced climate models lacks computing power
Comparing the first simple climate models with those of today is like comparing a little blurry black and white line drawing with a large, high-resolution full-color photo. Everything has increased dramatically - both complexity, geographical resolution and model datasets. Read the interview with Markku Rummukainen, coordinator of MERGE.