Global Warming in a Chaotic Climate - A Simple Conceptual Model (10 May 2006)

Our climate is chaotic. As a result, the internal variations of climate are irregular and weather patterns never repeat themselves exactly. Two animations [by Tim Palmer and Rob Hine (ECMWF)] showing the familiar "Executive Decision Maker" - a metal pendulum swinging over four magnets - help to illustrate a number of climate issues which have caused conceptual difficulties from time to time.