“Complexity” in Weather & Climate Science and Nobel Prize in Physics, 2021
Date19th Oct 2023
Time05:00 PM
Venue TTJ Auditorium, IC&SR Building
PAST EVENT
Details
The 2021 Nobel Prize in Physics was a historic and aspirational event for all climate scientists. Climate Science is a multidisciplinary science but rooted in Physics. For the first time in the history of the Nobel Prize, two Climate Scientists (Manabe and Hasselmann) were presented the Nobel Prize in Physics with a mainstream physicist (Parisi). More importantly, it was the recognition of the fact that Climate Science is deeply rooted in Physics and that “Complexity” is universal in many branches of physics, from microscopic atomic systems (Parisi’s work) to planetary-scale weather and climate systems (Manabe and Hasselmann’s work). Here, by ‘Complexity’, we refer to systems where a stochastic or chaotic, poorly predictable component and quasi-periodic, more predictable component co-exist and depend on each other for their existence. After introducing the work for which Manabe and Hasselmann were awarded the Nobel Prize, the talk will discuss the “Complexity’ in the context of Weather and Climate science in general and its implications for predicting Weather and Climate. In the backdrop of this ‘Complexity’, the revolution in Weather and Climate Forecasting in the past 60 years is highly significant, bringing tremendous socio-economic benefits to society. However, with the looming Climate Change crisis, new challenges have emerged. A new revolution in Science and Technology innovation is required to solve the problem before it is too late. I have been fortunate to be part of the Weather and Climate prediction revolution. I am hoping that some of you will take up this exciting challenge.
Speakers
Prof. B. N. Goswami
Centre for Atmospheric and Climate Sciences