Lewis Fry Richardson (1881-1953)

A famous British meteorologist

Today we will explore his idea.

The weather can be forecast by solving equations which represent the atmosphere.

Weymouth Portsmouth

ReadingBath

Brecon Birmingham Rugby Norwich

London

Boulogne

CromerLincolnManchesterLiverpool

• We will predict the temperature at each grid-point

1. Collect data about winds and temperatures at our grid-point and to the north and west.

2. Fill in information on computing form.3. Complete calculation.4. Communicate prediction to other grid-points

and forecast central (me).5. Repeat 4 times.• Each calculation will predict one hour ahead,

by the end of our forecast we will predict temperatures in 4 hours.

Computer Models• Logical operators

– IF TIME EQ 22 THEN GOTOBED=1

• Loops– FOR TIMESTEP=1,4 DO PRINT,’Timestep:’,TIMESTEP

• Mathematical equations:

In computer models there are a huge number of these IFs and DOs and equations describing different processes that all interact with each other over millions of grid boxes each time-step

new old west oldT T T TT Tu u

t x t x