Applying big data beyond small problems in climate research

Benedikt Knüsel (), Marius Zumwald, Christoph Baumberger, Gertrude Hirsch Hadorn, Erich M. Fischer, David N. Bresch and Reto Knutti
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Benedikt Knüsel: Institute for Environmental Decisions
Marius Zumwald: Institute for Environmental Decisions
Christoph Baumberger: Institute for Environmental Decisions
Gertrude Hirsch Hadorn: Institute for Environmental Decisions
Erich M. Fischer: Institute for Atmospheric and Climate Science
David N. Bresch: Institute for Environmental Decisions
Reto Knutti: Institute for Atmospheric and Climate Science

Nature Climate Change, 2019, vol. 9, issue 3, 196-202

Abstract: Abstract Commercial success of big data has led to speculation that big-data-like reasoning could partly replace theory-based approaches in science. Big data typically has been applied to ‘small problems’, which are well-structured cases characterized by repeated evaluation of predictions. Here, we show that in climate research, intermediate categories exist between classical domain science and big data, and that big-data elements have also been applied without the possibility of repeated evaluation. Big-data elements can be useful for climate research beyond small problems if combined with more traditional approaches based on domain-specific knowledge. The biggest potential for big-data elements, we argue, lies in socioeconomic climate research.

Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1038/s41558-019-0404-1

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