What is a climate model? 

What is a climate model? 

A climate model is a computer-based simulation of the Earth’s climate system. It uses scientific knowledge and physical laws to represent how different parts of the Earth interact. It can be used to recreate past climate conditions or to project how the climate may change in the future. 

The model divides the Earth into many sections and calculates how conditions such as temperature, rainfall, wind and ocean currents change over time. For example, SnowPI uses climate models to investigate how changes in snowfall can affect glaciers, ice sheets and permafrost.  

Different models are designed for different purposes. Global climate models simulate the Earth’s entire climate system, while regional climate models provide more detailed information about particular areas, such as the polar regions. By using multiple models and scenarios, scientists can estimate a range of possible future climate changes and the uncertainties associated with them.