The New Computer
From the UK
Daily Express:
MET Office's 100-year forecast (But it's wrong two days later)
THE boss of the cash-rich Met Office has boasted that its �41million super computer will deliver accurate forecasts �a century ahead�.
But critics say the money would have been better spent getting the next day�s forecast right.
John Hirst said taxpayers would be well served by the massive computer because it would ensure Britain leads the world in climate science.
He said �20.7million was invested in the project last year alone, taxpayers� money �which will enable the Met Office to deliver more accurate forecasts, from hours to a century ahead�. Mr Hirst said this referred to climate change predictions.
A Met Office forecast issued last Thursday for yesterday predicted hours of sunshine in central London. But there was hardly any, with rain clouds covering the capital for much of the day.
Mr Hirst�s claim was made in the Met Office�s annual report for 2011-12, which reveals he was paid �215,000, including a �45,000 bonus.
Despite the recession, the Met Office saw revenues from governments and business hit a record �196.2million, although redundancy costs meant profits slipped slightly from �9.4million to �9.1million.
�215,000 UKP is about $335,000 USD -- add to that the price to the UK taxpayer for this monster computer. Forecasts accurate to 100 years out? Talk about hubris. If we put sensors every ten feet throughout the atmosphere, we might might be starting to get accurate forecasts for the next 60 days. 100 Years is preposterous. Hirst's precious little organization needs to be defunded. Less computer models and more boots on the ground.
Posted by DaveH at June 24, 2012 8:24 PM