Office of Biological and Environmental
Research Weekly Report
May 19, 2008
Dawn of a New Era of “Customized” Supercomputing Applications? One of
the greatest challenges facing climate modelers is incorporating cloud-climate
interactions accurately. Although cloud
systems have been included in climate models in the past, they lack the details
that could improve the accuracy of climate predictions. In a paper published in the May issue of the International Journal of High Performance
Computing Applications, Office of Science (SC) funded researcher Michael
Wehner and colleagues at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) lay
out the benefit of a new class of supercomputers for modeling climate
conditions and understanding climate change. They are working with SC-funded scientist Dave
Randall from
Wehner
and colleagues set out to establish a practical estimate for building a
supercomputer capable of creating climate models at 1-kilometer (km) scale. A
cloud system model at the 1-km scale would provide rich details that are not
available from existing models. Using the embedded microprocessor technology
used in cell phones, iPods, toaster ovens and most other modern day electronic
conveniences, the authors propose designing a cost-effective machine for
running these models and improving climate predictions. This is a radical
alternative that would cost substantially less to build and require less
electricity to operate. LBNL has signed a collaboration agreement with
Tensilica®, Inc. to explore such new design concepts for energy-efficient
high-performance scientific computer systems.
Reference: Towards Ultra-High Resolution Models of
Climate and Weather, Wehner et al. 2008: International Journal of High
Performance Computing Applications 2008; 22: 149-165.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080506124443.htm
Media Interest:
Yes
Contact: Anjuli Bamzai, SC-23.3, (301) 903-0294