In 'A Vast Machine', Paul N. Edwards unveils the hidden interplay between information technology and environmental science. He chronicles the evolution of climate modeling and its pivotal role in shaping our understanding of climate change. With a compelling narrative, Edwards dives into the complexities of data, ethics, and the quest for clarity in an era of uncertainty. This book challenges readers to ponder how technology can both illuminate and obscure the truth. Are we truly prepared to face the consequences of our vast machine?
By Paul N. Edwards
Published: 2013
""In an age where data drives decisions, we must remember that behind every number lies a story waiting to be told.""
The science behind global warming, and its history: how scientists learned to understand the atmosphere, to measure it, to trace its past, and to model its future. Global warming skeptics often fall back on the argument that the scientific case for global warming is all model predictions, nothing but simulation; they warn us that we need to wait for real data, “sound science.” In A Vast Machine Paul Edwards has news for these skeptics: without models, there are no data. Today, no collection of signals or observations—even from satellites, which can “see” the whole planet with a single instrument—becomes global in time and space without passing through a series of data models. Everything we know about the world's climate we know through models. Edwards offers an engaging and innovative history of how scientists learned to understand the atmosphere—to measure it, trace its past, and model its future.
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“"In an age where data drives decisions, we must remember that behind every number lies a story waiting to be told."”
A Vast Machine
By Paul N. Edwards
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Paul N. Edwards is a renowned author and scholar known for his contributions to the fields of digital media, information technology, and environmental studies. His notable works include 'A Vast Machine: Computer Models, Climate Data, and the Politics of Global Warming' and 'The Closed World: Computers and the Politics of Discourse in Cold War America.' Edwards' writing style is characterized by its interdisciplinary approach, weaving together historical analysis, technical insight, and critical commentary, making complex subjects accessible and engaging to a broad audience.
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