Wikipedia:Main Page history/2011 August 10

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Today's featured article
Numerical weather prediction uses mathematical models of the atmosphere and oceans to predict the weather based on current weather conditions. A number of global and regional forecast models are run in different countries worldwide, using current weather observations relayed from radiosondes or weather satellites as inputs to the models. Mathematical models based on the same physical principles can be used to generate either short-term weather forecasts or longer-term climate predictions. Manipulating the vast datasets and performing the complex calculations necessary to modern numerical weather prediction requires some of the most powerful supercomputers in the world. Even with the increasing power of supercomputers, the forecast skill of numerical weather models only extends to about six days. Factors affecting the accuracy of numerical predictions include the density and quality of observations used as input to the forecasts, along with deficiencies in the numerical models themselves. To quantify the large amount of inherent uncertainty remaining in numerical predictions, ensemble forecasts have been used since the 1990s to help gauge the confidence in the forecast, and to obtain useful results farther into the future than otherwise possible. (more...) Recently featured: Section 116 of the Constitution of Australia – Oort cloud – Kylfings Archive – By email – More featured articles...
Did you know...
From Wikipedia's newest content: ... that US Army Master Sergeant Ernest R. Kouma won the Medal of Honor (pictured) in the Korean War for singlehandedly killing approximately 250 North Korean troops? ... that, to comply with obscenity laws, the first two editions of Eric Partridge's A Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English contained slang with asterisks in place of vowels in vulgar words? ... that Mozart built the final scene of his opera The Magic Flute "upon a solemn fugato around the chorale Ach Gott, vom Himmel sieh darein" by Martin Luther? ... that Jason Richardson is the only track and field athlete to have won both the 110 metres hurdles and 400 metres hurdles at a world youth championships? ... that the pulpit in Christ Church, Barnton, Cheshire has been described as "Puginesquely elaborate"? ... that pink beard-heaths blossom around Sydney in spring? Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news
Riot police in London Rioting, initially sparked by a fatal police shooting in London, spreads across parts of England (riot police pictured). Manuel Pinto da Costa is elected President of São Tomé and Príncipe. The Cambridgeshire Guided Busway, the longest guided busway in the world, opens in England. Standard & Poor's downgrades the credit rating of the United States government to AA+ for the first time. Juno, the first solar-powered spacecraft on a mission to Jupiter, is launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Horn of Africa famine Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events...
On this day...
August 10 955 – Forces under Otto I were victorious at the Battle of Lechfeld near present-day Augsburg, Germany, holding off the incursions of the Magyars into Central Europe. 1270 – Yekuno Amlak deposed the last Zagwe king and seized the imperial throne of Ethiopia, beginning the reign of the Solomonic dynasty that would last for more than 700 years. 1793 – The Louvre (pictured), the most visited art museum in the world, officially opened with an exhibition of 537 paintings. 1904 – Russo-Japanese War: The first major confrontation between modern steel battleship fleets took place in the Battle of the Yellow Sea. 1953 – First Indochina War: The French Union withdrew its forces from Operation Camargue against the Viet Minh in central modern-day Vietnam. 1988 – Japanese-American internment: The Civil Liberties Act of 1988 became law, authorizing US$20,000 in reparations to each surviving internee. More anniversaries: August 9 – August 10 – August 11 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now August 10, 2011 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured picture

The river Amstel, flowing through the centre of Amsterdam. Visible are some of the city's most important landmarks located adjacent to the river in this panorama, such as the Magere Brug (crossing the river), the Koninklijk Theater Carré, Amstel Hotel and Rembrandt Tower.

Photo: Massimo Catarinella

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