Have you met… Irfan Elahi SUPER POWER Irfan Elahi, director of the high-performance computing division at the National Center for Atmospheric Research, talks to MTI about the new Derecho supercomputer, which began operations last year Within this area, scientists are using Derecho for a very high-resolution model, the Model for Prediction Across Scales (MPAS), to simulate the atmosphere in more detail. The high resolution can improve forecasts by capturing atmospheric events ranging from destructive thunderstorm systems to precipitation in remote mountain regions. They are also using another model, named FastEddy, to identify and quantify fugitive methane emissions at oil and gas production sites and simulate eddies and other turbulent flow features along urban streets, which can help predict impacts on drones and other small aerial vehicles. ABOVE LEFT: Irfan Elahi has worked at NCAR BELOW: Derecho is expected to deliver about 3.5 times the scientific throughput of the existing Cheyenne supercomputer D erecho, the new National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) supercomputer for advancing the Earth system sciences, is a 19.87-petaflops system that will help scientists conduct the research needed to better understand a range of phenomena that affect society. “The new supercomputer will help us develop improved predictions of seasonal water supply, drought risk and flooding, for example,” explains Elahi. “It will also help with better wildfire risk management, enhanced forecasting of climate change hazards and impacts, renewable energy optimization, air quality analysis and improved understanding of the dangers posed by solar storms.” According to Elahi, high-performance computers like Derecho enable researchers to run increasingly detailed models that simulate complex processes and how they might unfold in the future. “Scientists can also harness the increased computing power to run multiple simulations that provide a more complete picture of the Earth system. This type of ensemble modeling enables them to quantify the likely range of outcomes, or uncertainty, of a given event. “Ensemble predictions are particularly helpful for providing resource managers and policy experts with valuable information for planning ahead and mitigating risk,” he adds. Climate change is one area where the new computer is speeding up research. “The system’s increased capability will be critical to the development of the next version of NCAR’s flagship global climate model, the Community Earth System Model, which will allow more detailed and societally relevant projections of global and regional climate change,” explains Elahi. According to NCAR, one research team is already using Derecho to create an ensemble of detailed computer simulations showing how the climate is likely to change at very fine scales across the western US. This novel approach will help reduce uncertainties about future climate and provide researchers with an important data set at a time when the western US is contending with unprecedented water shortages, fire weather conditions and heat extremes, NCAR noted. Severe weather is another area where research is accelerating thanks to Derecho. “Derecho is expected to help provide more realistic simulations of weather hazards such as thunderstorms, tornadoes and hurricanes, which will enable scientists to gain new insights into the processes involved, improve the models used for weather prediction and better represent hazards and their impacts in a changing climate,” explains Elahi. for over 20 years and been director of the high-performance computing division since June 2020 Index to advertisers Airmar Technology Corporation .......................................... 53 Baron Services Inc.............................................................................. 3 Campbell Scientific Inc ............................................................... 25 Communications & Power Industries Canada Inc .... 49 EUMETSAT ........................................................................................... 31 EWR Radar Systems ......................... Inside front cover Geolux d.o.o. ........................................................................................ 39 Meteomatics AG .............................................................................. 43 Meteopress spol sro ....................................................................... 19 Meteorological Technology ............................................................ World Expo 2024 ................................................... 11, 12, 13 Nel Hydrogen ..................................................................................... 53 RM Young Company .......................... Inside back cover Remtech SA .......................................................................................... 61 Synoptic Data ...................................................................................... 61 Vaisala Oyj ............................................ Outside back cover Zoglab Microsystem Co. Ltd .................................................... 16 64 • www.meteorologicaltechnologyinternational.com • April 2024