University plays host to climate modellers

Junior scientists from the UK, Japan and other countries were taught about the latest theories and methods used for climate modelling. In addition, they put theory into practice using state-of-the-art modelling software from the Met Office Hadley Centre for Climate Change .

The intensive two week meeting culminated with an address from the Government's Chief Scientific Advisor, Sir David King, last night at Selwyn College, attended by the Japanese Ambassador to Britain and the Chief Executive of the Natural Environment Research Council.

Climate models are fundamental tools for learning about our planet, assisting scientists and governments in assessing current and future risks and vulnerabilities. More accurate climate models could lead to better predictions of the likelihood and location of natural disasters, such as the recent flooding that has occurred across the UK.

The Summer School was organised by the National Centre for Atmospheric Science (NCAS) and was substantially funded by The Foreign and Commonwealth Office. It forms part of a major international project known as the UK–Japan Climate Collaboration (UJCC), which was initiated to maximise the power of one of the world's fastest computers — known as Earth Simulator — to produce world-leading climate simulations. The Summer School aimed to ensure that the skills and knowledge required for climate modelling in the future are passed on to the next generation of climate scientists.

The Laboratory of Computational Dynamics, which is based at the Centre for Mathematical Sciences, is currently involved in an international project to build the next generation multi-scale climate model and was therefore a highly suitable host for the UJCC–NCAS summer school.

Dr Nikos Nikiforakis, Director of the Laboratory and one of the organisers, commented on the success of the event, “The students had a unique opportunity to be lectured by some of the world's most pre-eminent scientists and to put their newly acquired knowledge into practice using the UK's current operational climate model. Some of the scenarios they run, like increasing CO2 levels, are the very ones used to advise Government policy.

“I was delighted to hear that senior international colleagues who attended the school considered it as a world-class training programme on Advanced Computing and Simulation. It has set the standard for future events”.