More supercomputing power to crunch more data, to better forecast in a changing climate.
Also, see below.
Skip to content
One wonders if more computing power is going to help. As the Arctic warms, the Jet Stream destabilizes, and the system becomes ever more chaotic.
Increasing computing speed can’t hurt, but did they upgrade the programs as well? Getting an “answer” faster perhaps isn’t as important as making sure all the right data has been input and the right questions are being asked.
Additional computing power is about handling higher resolution and more variables within an acceptable length of time. NOAA has a software model upgrade project plan.
http://www.emc.ncep.noaa.gov/GFS/impl.php
A mighty upgrade and good business for IBM. The systems are supplied by Cray (an IBM contractor), who have a rich history with supercomputers starting with Seymour Cray and the early CDC’s in the 1960’s.
Should be able to calculate the odds of the 21st century climate statistics:
GO FIGURE: Figuring the odds of Earth’s global hot streak
http://phys.org/news/2015-01-figure-figuring-odds-earth-global.html
http://www.datacenterknowledge.com/archives/2015/01/07/u-s-weather-service-to-boost-supercomputer-power-tenfold/