US Patent 7219015 Methods for generating data set

A computer method of generating a probabilistic dataset relating to a weather event includes inputting data representative of an historical weather event, and generating data representative of a plurality of alternative events. The data for the alternative events are generated, in certain embodiments, by a dependent sampling process. In particular embodiments, the dependent sampling process is a directed random walk process. Data for the alternative events may include data relating to the geographical positions or “tracks” of the event, data relating to atmospheric pressures, or both.