Climate Models

ThinkTV, PBS Learning Media

This video explains how scientists construct computer-generated climate models to forecast weather, understand climate, and project climate change. It discusses how different types of climate models can be used and how scientists use computers to build these models.

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Notes from our reviewers

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Use as an introduction to what climate models are and how they are used. See additional teaching tips provided with resource.
Animations depict the way scientists divide the globe into a three-dimensional grid with many layers reaching up into the atmosphere, to capture many types of information. Provides an excellent beginner's introduction to climate models. The content is good, but it is not visually interesting. Comments from science expert: Overall, this resource is mostly accurate. Suggestions: - The terms "model or simulate" will not be clear to this audience. I recommend defining these terms. - "They begin by drawing a grid across the surface. This divides Earth into squares". The word "squares" is misleading. I think this is referring to columns on which the equations are solved. My understanding is that the equations are solved within each column, not at the corners. - More visuals showing how climate models are run (e.g., big computers) or what their outputs produce and how realistic they can look when compared to satellite imagery would be really helpful/useful.