NIWA (National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research) has purchased a NZ$20m (US$12m) supercomputer to enable high-resolution weather and climate forecasting 24/7, using data from weather stations around the world.
Increased computation power
The next-generation supercomputer is the fourth that NIWA has bought since its initial investment in high-performance computing for New Zealand in 1999. The new computer will have 2.5 to three times more generational power than its predecessor, enabling higher resolution, more frequent processing and additional AI workloads. It will reportedly be housed at two state-of-the-art data centers in Auckland, with the highest security and sustainability credentials.
“As the biggest research computer in New Zealand, it represents a NZ$20m (US$21m) investment in NIWA’s world-leading climate, marine and freshwater science and advanced technologies,” said NIWA chief executive John Morgan.
“This is a substantial investment in New Zealand science that will benefit all New Zealanders and our friends throughout the Pacific Islands, especially as our nation is increasingly being disrupted by extreme weather events. It will also be used to help keep the country all safe in the outdoors through weather forecasting services for the Department of Conservation and by supporting FENZ [Fire and Emergency New Zealand] in their fire and emergency services.”
According to NIWA, the supercomputer is also capable of tailored expansion to meet the supercomputing requirements of other science institutions in New Zealand and throughout the Pacific.
Global emissions detection
The supercomputer will also support the organization’s role as the science lead in the international satellite mission (MethaneSat) to detect global methane emissions – including those from agricultural sources. In particular, NIWA plans to use the system to provide its computational resources to support the high-resolution weather models needed to show the origin of the methane even when it has been blown away from its source.
In related news, NIWA has launched a NZ$5m (US$3m) per year package of new projects aiming to tackle some of New Zealand’s most pressing challenges, including responding to and preparing for extreme weather events. Click here to read the full story.