ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Environmental Modeling Center

Do you know what a model is? Think of it like a little toy version of something, like a toy car or a dollhouse. Just like how you can play with these toy versions of things, scientists can use models to help them understand things in the world around us.

An environmental modeling center is a place where scientists create models of the environment - that's everything around us, like the weather, oceans, and air. These models help scientists understand how different parts of the environment work and how they are connected.

For example, have you ever wondered why it's colder in the winter and warmer in the summer? Scientists can use models to help explain why that happens. They can create computer programs that show how the sun's rays hit the earth and how the earth rotates around it. These programs can help predict how hot or cold it will be on specific days throughout the year.

Environmental modeling centers can also help us understand things like how pollution affects the air we breathe and the water we drink. Scientists can use models to see how pollutants move through the environment and where they end up. They can then use this information to try to reduce pollution and protect our planet.

So, in short, an environmental modeling center is a place where scientists create little toy versions of the environment to help them understand how it works and to try to keep it healthy for us all to enjoy.