RE: [asa] The Mathematics of Global Warming

I have not done any work on climate problems but it seems that when one uses differential equations they have to be converted into difference equations and so there are all sorts of possible ways to do that and stability of the solutions is very important. Also, one can consider certain global solutions and so perturbation theory near such known solutions but that is assuming maybe too much. The question that bugs me is if such models can predict ice ages, that is to say, very long range behaviors.

Moorad

-----Original Message-----
From: asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu [mailto:asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu] On Behalf Of Jon Tandy
Sent: Monday, November 30, 2009 10:03 AM
To: 'AmericanScientificAffiliation'
Subject: RE: [asa] The Mathematics of Global Warming

Someone with more expertise will have to answer this for me, but isn't this
a category error of sorts to compare the mathematics of weather prediction
with the patterns of climate change? The author seems to be talking
exclusively about the uncertainties of the dynamic system of predicting next
month's weather, and saying that is the same thing as global climate change;
which, if I understand it right, is based on long trends and observational
data, not just statistical models and differential equations? Whether AGW
turns out to be right, this criticism doesn't seem to be completely on the
mark. I know that climate predictions are based on mathematical models and
assumptions about conditions and functions, so how much do uncertain
mathematical calculations factor into the predictions of climate change
(i.e. global warming)? Do we know how much we don't know (i.e. the
potential factor of error)?

Jon Tandy

-----Original Message-----
From: asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu [mailto:asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu] On
Behalf Of John Walley
Sent: Monday, November 30, 2009 6:34 AM
To: AmericanScientificAffiliation
Subject: [asa] The Mathematics of Global Warming

I found this to be very interesting. I wonder if any of the mathematicians
on the list have any comment?

John

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Received on Mon Nov 30 10:50:42 2009