Monthly Archives: September 2017
Climate Models and Decision Making
Scientists have used climate models to project climate conditions in the future under various scenarios. Looking at the movement of energy and materials through the climate system, climate models are referred to as general circulation models (GCMs) (NOAA). In order … Continue reading
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Tagged climate models, global climate models, regional climate models
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A Precautionary Principle for Climate Models and Decision-making
Definitions of risk are often framed around the possibility of harm. Decision-makers will never have 100% certainty, especially when it comes to climate variability. The UNFCCC does not allow incomplete data to limit global response. Instead, it follows a “precautionary … Continue reading
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Making decisions in the light of uncertainty from global climate models
Models are important in all sciences. They are created to synthesize knowledge and quantify effects through mathematical equations. Global climate models are created based on the fundamental laws of physics, as they attempt to translate natural cycles of the … Continue reading
Predicting the Future of our Climate
While many uncertainties still linger in regards to the specifics of climate change, some basic facts are definite. The most sure and important fact is that the climate is shifting rapidly, due to anthropogenic causes. As humans continue to … Continue reading
Posted in Risk and resilience
Tagged climate change, global climate models, nepal, precipitation, temperature, uncertainty
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Preparing for the Unknown
We have good reason to believe that the climate we have come to know is changing. The IPCC reports that “Warming of the climate system is unequivocal, and since the 1950s, many of the changes are unprecedented over decades … Continue reading
Climate Models: Are They Useful?
Uncertainty Does Not Mean Inaction Sound decisions can be made about responding to climate change despite significant uncertainties about future climate because high natural variability emerges during the process of modeling Nepal’s climate. It is important to note that Nepal’s … Continue reading
Posted in Risk and resilience
Tagged climate change, climate model, gcm, IDS Nepal, model, monsoon, practical action, resilience, trend, uncertainty, variability
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The Validity of Climate Models in Predicting Climate Change
The increasing political debate on climate change is unnerving. The science behind the linkage between our earth’s changing climate and human impact has been proven for years. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has continued to increase their certainty … Continue reading
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The Importance of Climate Models
Erik Nielsen Professor Leary INTD 250 9/20/17 The Importance of Climate Models While there are certain uncertainties about the earth’s future climate, I still believe that climate models are very useful for making informed decisions to deal with climate change. … Continue reading
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Climate Models
One of the key critiques of climate models is that they are incredibly vague. For example the 2100 precipitation change compared to the 1970-1999 baseline in Nepal is modeled to be between -30% and 100%. It is true that no … Continue reading
Posted in Risk and resilience, Uncategorized
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Timeline: 1768 – Prithvi Narayan Shah unifies Kathmandu Valley (Matthew p. 141) 1950 – Nepalese people and King Tribhuvan overthrow the Ranas, ruling party over Nepal, w/ support from India, lead to “Delhi compromise” (Matthew p. 142) 1950 – Delhi … Continue reading
Posted in Risk and resilience
Tagged king mahendra, nepal, nepalese timeline, panchayat system
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