Ashima Research - Research Tools
Research Tools
Atmospheric Datasets
A range of types of data are used in our study of planetary atmospheres and planetary climate. The data vary in terms of the types of platforms the data have been acquired from — orbiting spacecraft, landed spacecraft, and telescopes — and the types of data — imaging, thermal infrared sounding, in situ sensors, etc.
Numerical Models
Given the complexity of real atmospheres, models of atmospheric and climate behavior are enormously valuable for attempting to gain understanding. Models embody the predictive understanding of a system. Models can be used in isolation as proxy “laboratory” experiments where the subject is a whole global system (or some part thereof). But ultimately, the model is only as good as its ability to reproduce — or better yet, predict — observations. The kinds of models used in modern atmospheric and climate science tend to be numerical models that integrate forward in time equations governing atmospheric motions (conservation of momentum, mass, and energy). These are the same kinds of models used to predict weather and climate change on the Earth.
