5.5 Predicting future climates

Question 1

Extrapolation

Answer 1

The process of estimating a value
beyond the range of observations on the
assumption that there is a relationship between
the variables.

Question 2

Model predictions may be incorrect due to:

Answer 2

• Limited data
• limited knowledge of how the climate system works
• limitations in computing resources
• failure to include all factors affecting the climate
• changing trends in factors included, for example, faster than expected loss of snow and ice cover or greater CO2 emissions.