Cambridge academic helps to improve climate modelling

Dr Chris Hope, Reader in Policy Modelling at Cambridge Judge Business School, contributed a study which was included in the business case for a new £97m supercomputer to improve weather predictions and climate modelling by the Met Office.

 

Dr Hope’s study focused on how receiving better information about a key component of climate sensitivity is worth about $590 billion globally in expected value. The new Met Office supercomputer will increase the chance of getting this information sooner, giving a mean UK socio-economic benefit of just under £1 billion for this use alone.

The computer, which will be brought on stream at the Met Office in Exeter progressively between 2015 and 2017, will be 13 times faster than the current system, enabling more detailed and accurate forecast models.

As well as running UK-wide and global forecasting models more frequently, the new technology will allow key service providers such as major airports to receive much more detailed forecast information and advice. The computer will also provide capability essential for climate scientists to run detailed models over much longer time scales.

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