If simulations are programs, don’t they just tell us what we program it to?
In: 3
They do.
Think of it more like a calculator. You put in 5 and 6, and have it programmed to calculate an equation (i.e. multiply the two numbers) and it gives you 30. Sure, you knew that was the answer already. But how about 5.543 * 6.21? No freakin idea, but our simulation gives us the answer right away.
So, now make the equation way more complicated, so you can’t just do it in your head. Now put in your input numbers (and it can be a lot of them) and it crunches away and gives you the result.
You can make this ‘equation’ basically do anything you want. You can simulate the atmosphere of earth, and input initial conditions, and then let the “simulation” tell you how it plays out. It is doing exactly what you programmed it to do.
The value is that you can take the simulated atmosphere, and try all kinds of scenarios. What if CO2 increases to twice its current amount? Run the simulations and see what happens.
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