Project Profile: ClimatePrediction.Net

This week's project profile is for ClimatePrediction.net, a massive project to model and forecast weather in the 21st Century.

The software, like the other projects profiled so far, operates on the BOINC platform for distributed computing. The ClimatePrediction.net system uses the unused background cycles of its members' computers to simulate a large number of possible climate scenarios to determine how each individual variable affects the overall climate picture.

These simulations are then studied individually and merged together into one and tweaked as additional data becomes available. The more data runs that are performed, the more accurate the models will become.

Accurate prediction of climate change could be vital on both the short- and long-term scales. For example, more precise climate modeling could have shown that Hurricane Katrina would strike New Orleans, rather than the predicted path that showed it striking Texas. Advanced warning could have led to better evacuation and preparation and given people an expectation of the damage before it happened.

Similarly, in the long-term time scale, climate change predictions can give us better understanding of potential warming effects such as rising ocean levels, increased storm activity, etc.

If you're interested in participating in this type of science project, you can download the software here.

Hey Buddy, Wanna Be a Meteorology Researcher?

I've uncovered another site where the average person (that's me and you) can help contribute to scientific research. This time, it's in the field of meteorology.

Colorado State University administers the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network (or CoCoRaHS for short) program. You can sign up to help measure and map rain, snow, and hail precipitation in your local community.

The team at CoCoRaHS then compiles the data into maps to track daily precipitation. The data is freely available to, and used by he National Weather Service, other meteorologists, hydrologists, emergency managers, city utilities (water supply, water conservation, storm water), insurance adjusters, USDA, engineers, mosquito control, ranchers and farmers, outdoor & recreation interests, teachers, students, and neighbors in the community.

Stay tuned as I identify more opportunities for folks like you and me to participate in research. If you know of any additional opportunities, post them in the comments below.