This movie explains how scientists build climate models.
Movie courtesy of NCAR.

Climate Model Grid Movie

This video explains how Global Climate Models (GCM) are constructed. Atmospheric scientists use these complex computer models to study Earth's climate. GCMs can help us understand how our planet's climate might behave in the future. These models must perform many, many mathematical calculations... and therefore are run on some of the world's fastest supercomputers.

Right-click (Windows) or Option-click (Mac) on any of the following links to download a copy of this video in QuickTime format: large (62 MB), medium (14 MB), or small (4.1 MB).

Last modified January 5, 2010 by Randy Russell.

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The Summer 2010 issue of The Earth Scientist, available in our online store, includes articles on rivers and snow, classroom planetariums, satellites and oceanography, hands-on astronomy, and global warming.

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