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Updated: Jul 30, 2025

Using Generative Art to Convey Past and Future Climate Transitions
Published on: March 31, 2023
Demystifying global climate models for use in the life sciences
David S Schoeman1, Alex Sen Gupta2, Cheryl S Harrison3
1Ocean Futures Research Cluster, School of Science, Technology and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, Queensland, Australia; Centre for African Conservation Ecology, Department of Zoology, Nelson Mandela University, Gqeberha, South Africa.
Abstract:
For each assessment cycle of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), researchers in the life sciences are called upon to provide evidence to policymakers planning for a changing future. This research increasingly relies on highly technical and complex outputs from climate models. The strengths and weaknesses of these data may not be fully appreciated beyond the climate modelling community; therefore, uninformed use of raw or preprocessed climate data could lead to overconfident or spurious conclusions. We provide an accessible introduction to climate model outputs that is intended to empower the life science community to robustly address questions about human and natural systems in a changing world.
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