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Computing the Climate: How We Know What We Know About Climate Change

by Steve M. Easterbrook

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Reader said: " I stumbled upon this book at a time when I was skeptical about accepting what scientists said about climate change without understanding the science behind it myself. Dr. Easterbrook, with his deep roots in System Thinking and Software Engineering, h I stumbled upon this book at a time when I was skeptical about accepting what scientists said about climate change without understanding the science behind it myself. Dr. Easterbrook, with his deep roots in System Thinking and Software Engineering, has a knack for breaking down the most complex climate models into digestible pieces. This book isn't just for the experts; it's for anyone curious about the world around them, making the science behind climate change approachable and, dare I say, fascinating.

For those of you who are in the early stages of your research careers or perhaps neck-deep in graduate studies, this book might just be the lighthouse you need. It certainly was for me - this book helped me build the required interdisciplinary knowledge about climate models that ultimately translated into my independent doctoral research in Computer Science.

Dr. Easterbrook goes beyond the traditional academic discourse by bringing us along on his visits to leading climate and weather forecasting labs across the globe. Steve makes the science colloquially palatable by not only embodying an engaging writing style but also focusing on what readers struggle with and making it easy to understand, making you feel as if you're unraveling the mysteries of the climate alongside him.

Take Chapter Four, Chaos Theory, for instance. I’d say it’s the most difficult concept to make accessible to readers without prior knowledge, but Steve skillfully describes the three-body problem and a dishpan experiment to gently ease the readers into Global Circulation Models. At this point, the reader knows the complexity of predicting an indeterministic system, yet the reader has the hope that although limits on predictability exist, these systems can be approximated well by studying their characteristic patterns.

What truly resonates with me is Easterbrook's talent for storytelling, along with providing detailed footnotes and references for someone ready to dive deep into these concepts. He introduces us to the giants on whose shoulders modern climate science stands—not as untouchable geniuses but as real, passionate individuals driven to solve a particular problem. Take, for instance, the story of Carl Gustaf Rossby. Even though he couldn't contribute directly to von Neumann’s climate simulation project, he helped his friend gather a brilliant team of young meteorologists.

Every chapter of this book is meticulously crafted, letting you grasp the grandeur of climate model development while appreciating the intricate details of each milestone.

As we are living in a climate crisis, 'Computing the Climate' becomes more than just a book; it's a journey into the heart of climate science, guided by a storyteller who makes you feel at home amidst the complexity. Whether you're a skeptic, a student, or someone simply looking to understand our world a little better, this book has something for you. It certainly did for me, and I hope it does the same for you. As the author writes, "to find out why, read on!" ...more "

Feb 17, 2024 06:20PM · see review

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