Supercomputers at Florida’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Centers are Constantly Working

By Space Coast Daily // March 15, 2020

2.8 quadrillion math equations calculatated per second

Dutifully processing 2.8 quadrillion mathematical calculations per second around the clock, these computers are about the size of a school bus and are the nucleus of weather and climate forecasting in the United States. (NOAA Image)

(NOAA) – Dutifully processing 2.8 quadrillion mathematical calculations per second around the clock, these computers are about the size of a school bus and are the nucleus of weather and climate forecasting in the United States.

Every day, the supercomputers collect and organize billions of earth observations, such as temperature, air pressure, moisture, wind speed and water levels, which are critical to initialize all numerical weather prediction models. All these observations are represented by numbers.

How does NOAA observe the planet?

• Weather Balloons
• Satellites
• Buoys
• Radars
• Sensors on commercial aircraft and ships
• Coastal and river gauges
• Nationwide network of ground-based observing stations

The supercomputers then plug these observations into a series of mathematical algorithms that represent the physical properties of the atmosphere and predict what will happen globally up to 16 days into the future.

Using observations of the atmosphere’s current state mapped to a model grid, the equations help predict the formation, intensity and track of complex weather systems, which take into account how they influence each other and underlying atmospheric patterns driving their behavior.

Using math to model the future state of the atmosphere is called numerical weather prediction, a branch of atmospheric sciences that was pioneered after World War II, but really took off in helping make reliable weather predictions in the U.S. in the 1980s with advancements in computing and the development of the global model system.

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A math whiz: One of NOAA’s newest supercomputers, nicknamed Luna, crunches numbers 24/7 to assist with accurate weather predictions. (NOAA/Susan Buchanan image)

Today, powerful supercomputers and advances in modeling capabilities continue to improve weather, climate, and water prediction, especially for extreme events.

NOAA runs numerical weather models operationally to predict global weather, seasonal climate, hurricanes, ocean waves, storm surge, flooding and air quality.

As gains are made in supercomputing capacity and power, models are upgraded to take advantage of the growing volume of earth observations. Although no single model is accurate 100 percent of the time and observations are imperfect, access to a wide range of models.

Model agreement leads to higher certainty in forecasts. If the models are not in agreement, forecasters can present that uncertainty to the public.

NOAA prioritizes improvements in weather forecasting as we build a Weather-Ready Nation.

Today’s forecasts and the improved forecasts of the future are made possible by sustained investments in observing systems, weather and climate models, and the supercomputers that power them.