Ocean and climate research has come a long way in 30 years

摘要

Thirty years ago, a four-day weather forecast was a big deal. Today, thanks to advances in modelling, computing power, observation coverage and data assimilation, the forecast a week ahead is as accurate as the four-day forecast was in the 1980s. In 1985, the first compact disc was launched to consumers, the first ".com" registered, and Windows 1 was released. It was also the year that the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation's (CSIRO) marine laboratories were opened in Hobart, and Australia's first oceanographic research ship was launched.