The development of the computer in the early 1950s allowed
the first experiments in numerical weather prediction. Click
here to read about
the historical basis for this field, and to carry out your own
forecast.
To see nearest forecast click
here.
In addition to producing forecasts numerical models can
help us to interpret our observations more precisely
by producing winds and weather that is most consistent with
them. The problem of using data to constrain models is even more
crucial for the oceans because the number of direct observations
is so limited. Click
here to see a movie of the changing sea surface temperature and sea level
for the years 1982-1985. During these years the largest El
Nino of the 20th century innundated the coasts of Peru and
caused massive global environmental changes.
For more information about ocean analysis click
here.