Climate models: what are they good for?

Climate models are used to make predictions, for example, of the season ahead, and projections for the century ahead. They are also the main tool for understanding how the climate may change in the future. Their projected outcomes are used in many different applications, from water security to bushfire and other hazard preparedness and to international policy decisions. This unit will start with an overview of the physical basis of climate models and how their different components interact. An understanding of different types of experiments and configurations of these models will then be developed and how these are applied for various uses. Our confidence and uncertainty in their results and how these inform decision-making will be discussed. The unit will include hands-on experience in using climate models.