Scientific model

A simplified representation of a system, process, or phenomenon, used to describe, explain, or predict aspects of the world.

Abstraction: The process of retaining selected features while omitting others to make an idea or representation manageable. A model abstracts from reality by preserving features relevant to its purpose.
Mathematical model: A representation of a system using mathematical structures and relationships. Equations make many scientific models precise enough to calculate outcomes.
Scientific theory: A well-substantiated explanatory framework that organizes evidence and generates testable expectations. Theories explain broad patterns; models represent selected systems or aspects of them.
Climate model: A mathematical and computational representation of Earth’s climate system. Climate models combine physical processes to project climate patterns under specified conditions.
Model uncertainty: Uncertainty in results arising from a model’s structure, assumptions, parameters, or inputs. Uncertainty limits how precisely model outputs can support conclusions.
Assumption: A proposition accepted as a starting point for reasoning or analysis. Assumptions set the conditions under which a model represents a system.
Computer simulation: The execution of a computational model to study a system’s behavior over time or under varied conditions. Simulations explore model behavior when analytical solutions are unavailable or impractical.
Scientific law: A concise statement describing a regular pattern in nature, often expressed mathematically. Laws summarize regularities, while models can represent mechanisms and idealized systems.
Atomistic model: A representation of matter that describes its behavior in terms of atoms and their interactions. Atomistic models connect microscopic structure to observable material properties.
Overfitting: A failure in which a model matches training data closely but performs poorly on new data. A model can fit observations without capturing relationships that generalize.

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