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To: Scanian
OK, speaking as an old-school engineer...

Modeling and simulation is dependent on setting conditions, standards, and limitations at the start of the modeling process. Historically, modeling and simulations do NOT deal well with emergent "pop-up" events i.e. "reality" which can skew the validity and/or fidelity of the model results.

For example, I would love to see the sensitivity analysis of their model results to a Category 3 storm tracking across the Caribbean, up the Gulf Stream, and going ashore between Wilmington and Cape Hatteras (not an uncommon storm track). Now look at a Category 4 tracking across the Keys and show me the deltas in the model results. Are they significant? If so, then the current predicted results may not be worth a warm bucket of spit.

(For a quick&dirty study of M&S limitations, consider the recent controversy over grounding air traffic in Europe based on atmospheric modeling of the Icelandic volcano.)

As I've reminded my M&S people: "Modeling and simulation is nice, but reality bites."

13 posted on 06/04/2010 4:31:37 AM PDT by Jonah Hex ("Never underestimate the hungover side of the Force.")
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To: Jonah Hex

I call BS on this article. Common sense says dilution is the solution. You will never notice it outside the Gulf.


16 posted on 06/04/2010 5:07:44 AM PDT by kickstart ("A gun is a tool. It is only as good or as bad as the man who uses it" . Alan Ladd in 'Shane')
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To: Jonah Hex
In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is.
  - Yogi Berra
18 posted on 06/04/2010 5:16:23 AM PDT by BitWielder1 (Corporate Profits are better than Government Waste)
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