Originally posted by mrstabbyNo -- they're not. I already knew that power plants use weather forecasting to plan for energy demand, that only makes sense, so that's why I asked you specifically if they were also using climate modeling. According to the article you cited, use of climate modeling to plan for energy loads is all theoretical, just like climate modeling is all theoretical. The power companies represented in the article are part of a three-year Department of Energy project to determine if this is viable. So far they have no results -- in other words: nothing, nada, zip.
Yes
https://publicaffairs.llnl.gov/news/news_releases/2008/NR-08-03-05.html
Weather predictions are also used
http://www.dtnmeteorlogix.com/energy/gas.cfm
Originally posted by der schwarze RitterYes, of course models are theoretical, just like the vast majority of science. Drugs are tested on computer models, as are building designs... even car crash safety devices. This is all on a theoretical level, yet people's lives are trusted with them. If they were that unreliable, why would they not be trusted?
No -- they're not. I already knew that power plants use weather forecasting to plan for energy demand, that only makes sense, so that's why I asked you specifically if they were also using climate modeling. According to the article you cited, use of climate modeling to plan for energy loads is all theoretical, just like climate modeling is all th ...[text shortened]... etermine if this is viable. So far they have no results -- in other words: nothing, nada, zip.
The weather is forecast using computer models.
Why single out climate models as untrustworthy?