This post was published 5 years 9 months 22 days ago. Therefore, it may well be out of date. Do not reply on the contents of this post being accurate. An error in the grid computing project climateprediction.net, backed by the BBC, has been uncovered. It would appear that the data collected on models run on past climates is different to actual climate measurements that have been observed. Essentially, if the models can’t calculate past climate metrics what chance do they have in predicting future trends?
Oooops!!!
I think this is a serious blow to grid computing. OK, an error in one project certainly doesn’t mean that all grid-computing initiatives have faults. But by endorsing this project the BBC had a huge opportunity to promote grid computing. The BBC’s audience (TV, radio and online) is massive. This fault has the potential to ‘turn off’ the very people that can really make grid computing successful – the millions of people like you and me who have computers running idle some of the time.
I expect that when they do the show to present the results there will be reasonable arguments as to why the data remains valid and why it’s been a success. I just hope it hasn’t put people off donating their unused CPU processing power.
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