Edward N. Lorenz facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Edward Norton Lorenz
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| Born | May 23, 1917 West Hartford, Connecticut, United States
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| Died | April 16, 2008 (aged 90) Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
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| Alma mater | Dartmouth College (BA, 1938) Harvard University (MA, 1940) Massachusetts Institute of Technology (SM, 1943; ScD, 1948) |
| Known for | Chaos theory Lorenz attractor Butterfly effect |
| Awards | Symons Gold Medal (1973) Crafoord Prize (1983) Kyoto Prize (1991) Lomonosov Gold Medal (2004) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Mathematics and Meteorology |
| Institutions | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| Thesis | A Method of Applying the Hydrodynamic and Thermodynamic Equations to Atmospheric Models (1948) |
| Doctoral advisor | James Murdoch Austin |
| Doctoral students | Kevin E. Trenberth William D. Sellers |
Edward Norton Lorenz (born May 23, 1917 – died April 16, 2008) was an American mathematician and meteorologist. He was one of the first people to study Chaos theory. He is famous for coming up with the idea of the "Butterfly effect".
This idea explains how very small changes in a complex system can lead to huge, unexpected differences later on. He discovered this while working on weather prediction using computers.
Discovering the Butterfly Effect
In the 1960s, Edward Lorenz used a simple computer model to predict weather. He noticed something amazing. If he changed the starting numbers in his model just a tiny bit, the weather prediction would become completely different.
For example, if he used a number like 0.506127 instead of 0.506, the results would quickly become very different. This showed that even a tiny difference, like the flap of a butterfly's wings, could change the weather far away. This is why it's called the Butterfly effect.
In weather prediction, numbers are often rounded. This means a small error is added at each step. Lorenz's work showed how these tiny errors can grow into big problems.
The Lorenz Attractor
Edward Lorenz also created special mathematical equations. These equations helped him understand how complex systems behave. Today, these equations and the patterns they create are called the "Lorenz attractor". They are named after him because he discovered them.
The Lorenz attractor helps scientists visualize how chaotic systems move and change over time. It looks like a butterfly or a figure-eight shape.
His Important Work
Lorenz's discoveries changed how scientists think about many things. His work is important for understanding weather, climate, and other complex systems. He showed that predicting the future can be very hard, even with powerful computers. This is because tiny changes can have a huge impact.
His ideas are now a key part of Chaos theory. This field studies systems that are very sensitive to their starting conditions.
See also
- In Spanish: Edward Lorenz para niños
