Specificities of Climate Modeling Research and the Challenges in Communicating to Users

Abstract

s engaged in climate modeling activities have become accustomed to the specificities of their field and hence less conscious of aspects that may be perplexing to outsiders. This is a natural consequence of the widespread compartmentalization of sciences, but the case of climate sciences is somewhat particular: a large part of the science is carried out downstream from model simulations, situating this community in a particular place of responsibility to overcome communicational difficulties. This essay attempts to sketch some characteristics and practices proper to climate modeling that are both particularly thorny to convey and of relevance for most users (here understood to be professionals with a solid general scientific background, as in the case of those involved in impact and adaptation studies). Issues difficult to communicate are of many kinds, but those about which even climate modelers may feel baffled are particularly troublesome. It is argued here that in a community heavily invested on mutual trust, not only users but also the entire climate modeling community may benefit from increased scrutiny of its foundations. Also discussed are examples of possible research avenues that may help to strengthen climate modeling foundations and credentials, and hence increase our capacity to deliver more intelligible and trustworthy climate information to sophisticated users.