The Educational Global Climate Model or EdGCM is a fully functional
global climate model
A general circulation model (GCM) is a type of climate model. It employs a mathematical model of the general circulation of a planetary atmosphere or ocean. It uses the Navier–Stokes equations on a rotating sphere with thermodynamic terms f ...
(GCM) that has been ported for use on desktop computers (Windows PCs and Macs). It operates through a
graphical user interface
The GUI ( "UI" by itself is still usually pronounced . or ), graphical user interface, is a form of user interface that allows users to interact with electronic devices through graphical icons and audio indicator such as primary notation, inste ...
and is integrated with a
relational database
A relational database is a (most commonly digital) database based on the relational model of data, as proposed by E. F. Codd in 1970. A system used to maintain relational databases is a relational database management system (RDBMS). Many relatio ...
and scientific visualization utilities, all of which aim at helping improve the quality of teaching and understanding of
climatology
Climatology (from Greek , ''klima'', "place, zone"; and , '' -logia'') or climate science is the scientific study of Earth's climate, typically defined as weather conditions averaged over a period of at least 30 years. This modern field of stud ...
by making real-world research experiences more accessible. EdGCM is designed to permit teachers and students to conduct in-depth investigations of past, present and future climate scenarios in a manner that is essentially identical to the techniques used by national and international climate research organizations.
EdGCM was developed at the
Goddard Institute for Space Studies
The Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) is a laboratory in the Earth Sciences Division of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center affiliated with the Columbia University Earth Institute.
The institute is located at Columbia University in Ne ...
as a joint project of Columbia University and NASA scientists and programmers. The Global Climate Model at the core of EdGCM is '
GISS Model II''. During the 1980s and early 1990s this GCM was one of NASA's primary climate research tools. Results from the model have appeared in hundreds of scientific publications.
The coarser resolution of the climate model in EdGCM (8° x 10°, latitude x longitude) makes it inexpensive to run. But, because it contains most of the key atmospheric physics of modern GCMs, EdGCM is also used by climate researchers who do not have access to the most recent GCM versions.
See also
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NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA ) is an independent agency of the US federal government responsible for the civil space program, aeronautics research, and space research.
NASA was established in 1958, succeeding t ...
Goddard Institute for Space Studies
The Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) is a laboratory in the Earth Sciences Division of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center affiliated with the Columbia University Earth Institute.
The institute is located at Columbia University in Ne ...
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NCAR
The US National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR ) is a US federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) managed by the nonprofit University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) and funded by the National Science Foundatio ...
Community Climate System Model The Community Climate System Model (CCSM) is a coupled general circulation model (GCM) developed by the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) with funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Department of Energy (DoE), a ...
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NOAA
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (abbreviated as NOAA ) is an United States scientific and regulatory agency within the United States Department of Commerce that forecasts weather, monitors oceanic and atmospheric conditio ...
GFDL CM2.X
Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory Coupled Model (GFDL CM2.5) is a coupled atmosphere–ocean general circulation model (AOGCM) developed at the NOAA Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory in the United States. It is one of the leading climate mo ...
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Earth Simulator
The is a series of supercomputers deployed at Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology Yokohama Institute of Earth Sciences.
Earth Simulator (first generation)
The first generation of Earth Simulator, developed by the Japanese go ...
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HadCM3
HadCM3 (abbreviation for ''Hadley Centre Coupled Model, version 3'') is a coupled atmosphere-ocean general circulation model (AOGCM) developed at the Hadley Centre in the United Kingdom. It was one of the major models used in the IPCC Third Asse ...
- explanation of an AOGCM
External links
EdGCMat Columbia University
{{DEFAULTSORT:Edgcm
Numerical climate and weather models
Meteorology and climate education
NASA spin-off technologies