ensemble
/ɑːnˈsɒm.bəl/
Definition
A collection of multiple climate model simulations run under varying initial conditions or structural assumptions to account for uncertainty and identify consistent patterns.
Etymology
Derived from the French word 'ensemble,' meaning 'together' or 'at the same time.' It entered English in the 18th century, originally referring to a group of musicians or a coordinated set of clothing, before being adopted in science to describe a collection of related analytical simulations.
In the news
In this article, researchers use ensembles to distinguish between natural weather variability and the specific influence of human-caused climate change. By comparing many model outcomes, scientists gain higher confidence in their findings regarding extreme weather events.
How Attribution Science Uses Models to Uncover Climate Change’s Effects on Weather
Read the full article ↗The Equation - Union of Concerned Scientists