Models

Question 1

What is a model?

Answer 1

A simplified version of a system that helps us to learn about the system and possibly make predictions.

Question 2

Weaknesses of models?

Answer 2

They are never perfect, they are simplified and cannot capture the full complexity of a system, thus their predictability is limited.
Only as good as the data used to build them
Models can be manipulated to achieve political aims

Question 3

Strengths on models?

Answer 3

Help policy makers plan for the future, for example by seeing how different emission levels would impact global temp
Where/what to prioritise for adaption
help mobilise political public support for action by educating
Simple, understandable
Regi;ar;y

Question 4

Where does the data from thousands of years ago come from?

Answer 4

Isotopes of oxygen and ice cores

Question 5

Is the data reliable?

Answer 5

Modern day yes as technology is constantly improving and the data is being improved so it is quite accurate. From thousands of years ago as the methods of acquiring data are limited, there is a wide margin of error so they are not particularly accurate.