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  • © 2018

Climate Modelling

Philosophical and Conceptual Issues

Palgrave Macmillan
  • Includes contributions from Linda Mearns and Reto Knutti, members of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize

  • Consolidates the views of leading experts and observers on the philosophical and conceptual issues of climate modelling

  • Provides an early and important contribution to the emerging field of the Philosophy of Climate Science

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Table of contents (15 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xxxiii
  2. Introduction

    • Elisabeth A. Lloyd, Eric Winsberg
    Pages 1-28
  3. Confirmation and Evidence

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 29-29
    2. Satellite Data and Climate Models

      • Elisabeth A. Lloyd
      Pages 65-71
    3. Fact Sheet for “Consistency of Modeled and Observed Temperature Trends in the Tropical Troposphere”

      • Ben Santer, Peter Thorne, Leo Haimberger, Karl Taylor, Tom Wigley, John Lanzante et al.
      Pages 73-84
    4. Consistency of Modeled and Observed Temperature Trends in the Tropical Troposphere

      • B. D. Santer, P. W. Thorne, L. Haimberger, K. E. Taylor, T. M. L. Wigley, J. R. Lanzante et al.
      Pages 85-136
    5. Downscaling of Climate Information

      • L. O. Mearns, M. Bukovsky, S. C. Pryor, V. Magaña
      Pages 199-269
  4. Uncertainties and Robustness

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 271-271
    2. The Significance of Robust Climate Projections

      • Wendy S. Parker
      Pages 273-296
  5. Back Matter

    Pages 481-497

About this book

This edited collection of works by leading climate scientists and philosophers introduces readers to issues in the foundations, evaluation, confirmation, and application of climate models. It engages with important topics directly affecting public policy, including the role of doubt, the use of satellite data, and the robustness of models.

Climate Modelling provides an early and significant contribution to the burgeoning Philosophy of Climate Science field that will help to shape our understanding of these topics in both philosophy and the wider scientific context. It offers insight into the reasons we should believe what climate models say about the world but addresses the issues that inform how reliable and well-confirmed these models are.

This book will be of interest to students of climate science, philosophy of science, and of particular relevance to policy makers who depend on the models that forecast future states of the climate and ocean in order to make public policy decisions.

Editors and Affiliations

  • Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, IN, USA

    Elisabeth A. Lloyd

  • Department of Philosophy, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA

    Eric Winsberg

About the editors

Elisabeth A. Lloyd is Arnold and Maxine Tanis Chair of History and Philosophy of Science at Indiana University, USA. She specializes in the philosophy of climate science and the philosophy of evolutionary biology.

Eric Winsberg is Professor of Philosophy at the University of South Florida. His research interests include models and simulations, the philosophy of climate science, and the philosophy of physics, as well as general philosophy of science.



Bibliographic Information

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 189.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 249.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 249.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access