Climate Change Research Gets Its Own Supercomputer

cc-supercomputer
Some of the world's most powerful supercomputers have been working on climate change research and solutions, but their time is split among many of the globe's major issues. That is changing now that one supercomputer is dedicated solely to running algorithms and calculations in the name of climate change.

Computer-maker Cray has just been awarded $47 million from the DOE to build supercomputers that will be used by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The first computer will be a Cray model XT6 called the Climate Modeling and Research System and will be in the lab's hands by the end of the year.

Cray will supply the lab with another, more powerful computer in 2011 called "Baker" and more high-performance computing gear in 2012. With the budget assigned to this project, the computers will easily have a speed of a petraflop or greater.

via Earth2Tech

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What is petra flop?
written by cadence, May 24, 2010

I've looked up petra flop, and I've no idea what it mean. Can some one please explain, thanks

Climate changing supercomputers
written by Jak, May 25, 2010

These devices consume large amounts of electricity. Unless these new devices are proven to be powered using green power then they are part of the problem and not part of the solution.

It is up to the citizenry to ensure that these computers are powered with renewable energy.

-1

Climate change
written by automation, May 25, 2010

Climate change is a global problem, and yet each one of us has the power to make a difference. Even small changes in our daily behaviour can help prevent greenhouse gas emissions without affecting our quality of life. In fact, they can help save us money!

@Cadence
written by marsu, May 25, 2010

Super computer power is measured in Petras. A single Petra is approximately equal to 100,000 Intel microprocessors. Until now, supercomputer designers have only been able to reach sub Petra speeds reliably.

I believe that Petra is the name of the scientist who discovered the memory chip.

-1

Petaflop
written by Cam, May 25, 2010

It's a petaflop: 1 quadrillion floating point calculations per second.

...
written by Cam, May 25, 2010

Petaflop. Petraflop is a typo. 1 quadrillion calculations per second.

This computer is not the solution
written by Samantha, May 27, 2010

I agree with Jak, what good will it do to have this super powerful computer if it is using massive amounts of energy?

-1

I'm confused
written by Zach, June 03, 2010

How is a supercomputer going to undo peoples' lazy/bad habits?

-1

re: This computer is not the solution
written by Ben P., June 03, 2010

The environmental problem that we as a planet face is not a pinata. We really need to understand it to make a viable change. I mean really, if you just want to act blindly then maybe releasing tons of refrigerant into the atmosphere will cool off the globe! If you don't think before you act you are almost guaranteed to make the problem worse. You are foolish, Samantha as is Jak, if you think that swinging blindly in the dark at our problem is better than getting a clear picture of what we need to do and where and how much etc...

fun pun
written by John Rudmin, June 04, 2010

The supercomputer for climate change "is dedicated solely to running algorithms"...al gore rhythms, get it? =)

thermodynamic hypocrites?
written by mee, June 04, 2010

Will their cray be solar powered?

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