Warm data is an emergent term which is used to describe data that is used in more complex and less linear ways from cold data. Often times associated with qualitative information, warm data is a stream of unbiased observations, recorded continuously and applied in a more iterative and dynamic way. The purpose of warm data is to create a rich understanding of nuance and context which allows for a fuller accounting of the overall picture. In this way, warm data is a necessary added layer in understanding complex situations, such as those explored in The Great Simplification.

See also: climate change, fossil fuel, ecological footprint, renewable energy, nuclear power