This creates a change in conditions, and the new information is used to run the equations all over again with the new numbers inserted. Powerful supercomputers are capable of carrying out more than 500 million calculations per second. However, to solve all the equations necessary to run an Earth-atmosphere system for a model time of 1 year takes about 2 hours of computer time. As more computer power becomes available, the model can become more detailed, with points at closer intervals. The test for a computer model is to see how well it simulates known real events.
Scientists can then see how well the model predicts the already known outcome.
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