Yes, exactly. Computational power would depend on probabilities, but still on a macroscopic scale. Microscopic influences would still dramatically change all this, but would take a period of time to manifest itself macroscopically. Those macroscopic effects that computers measure overwhelm the microscopic until small scale effects snowball into large scale ones.
Astronomical events would also have influence, but would just take a lot longer. For example, a change in temperature of the star Alpha Centauri would effect Earth 4.3 years later (time it takes for electromagnetic radiation from Alpha Centauri to reach Earth).
As for animals predicting the weather. Yes, they are more efficient because for generations they have been in tune with nature. Developing something that could fly and navigate using magnetic fields as efficiently as birds would be rather difficult for us!
There are also macroscopic cycles of weather as well. We all naturally know that in the Northern hemisphere it will be colder in January than in July because of the seasons.
The 22 year solar cycle also has a macroscopic weather effect.
The animal hypothesis is a useful one. For one moment, consider the required calculus needed to catch a ball thrown towards you. Would most of us even be able to calculate the trajectory of said ball with pen and paper? No. Even less, would a dog catching a frisbee.
The animal brain is different to a computer in that it learns from experience. Pattern recognition is key (think about how you play chess, compared to how a PC would. A PC uses brute force and some clever algorythms - we use pattern recognition.)
Could animals be useful in predicting weather - yes.
Originally posted by Nyxie"How does a tree know to produce bigger acorns for longer winters?" ..... are you mad? do you think trees think AND can predict the weather for months ahead as well ..... think about it! you must be a barking tree hugger!
Sometimes complex patterns are understood by the simplest of form. Birds can map the magnetic fields that cirlce the earth. A june bug is a fairly good predicter of the weather. Perhaps we are'nt collecting the right data.
By observing not the weather itself but how different species react before a change we can learn through observation. How does a tree ...[text shortened]... can make long complex formulae, but why not try finding the simple explanation first.
Nyxie