Numerical Modeling

Atmospheric scientists build numerical models to solve the equations that describe the spate-temporal evolution of the atmosphere quantitatively. The best known examples for such models are numerical weather prediction (NWP) models that have been the backbone of operational weather prediction since the 1980s. Global circulation models (GCMs) coupled with numerical models of the ocean, and sometimes with other components of the Earth system, are used to simulate and predict changes in the climate. GCMs are also used to study the dynamics of other planetary atmospheres, such as those of Mars or Titan. Some models have capabilities to simulate and predict changes in the chemical composition of the atmosphere in addition to the changes in its physical state. Simplified or idealized models of the atmosphere are often used to develop a better understanding of the qualitative behavior of the more complex realistic models.