numerical weather prediction

Numerical weather prediction (NWP) uses mathematical models based on physics equations to calculate future weather conditions. This approach, pioneered by Lewis F. Richardson, relies on objective calculations rather than mental estimates. NWP models take current atmospheric data (temperature, pressure, wind, humidity) and use iterative steps to forecast changes over time. While early attempts were manual and prone to error, the advent of electronic computers in the mid-20th century, with contributions from scientists like John von Neumann and Jule Charney, revolutionized NWP. Today, these models are the foundation of most weather forecasts, though human forecasters may still interpret or adjust the results.12