In this installment of CCC’s Weekly Computing News, we are sharing an exciting opportunity to advance research on weather, climate, ocean and ecosystem prediction through a $100 million investment to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) high-performance computer system (HPC).
Investment of $100 million in a new high-performance computer system to advance NOAA research and development
Rhea, the newest HPC system, will be installed at the NOAA Environmental Security Computing Center (NESCC) in Fairmont, West Virginia. This advanced facility, which already houses the Hera HPC, will feature graphics processing units designed to accelerate NOAA’s use of artificial intelligence and machine learning.
Rhea’s capabilities will enhance NOAA’s efforts in various areas, including marine life monitoring, weather forecasting, and modeling of environmental events such as atmospheric rivers, fire weather, and hurricane intensification. The $100 million federal funding will support the installation of a modular data center unit for Rhea, complete with storage, networking, and switches, connecting it to the existing HPC infrastructure at NESCC.
CCC council members who have interest in HPC and sustainability are eager to see the advances Rhea will bring.
Computational Foundations for Sustainability and Climate Resilience Task Force Chair Chandra Krintz believes the Rhea high-performance computer system is a significant investment in the US’s digital infrastructure that will expedite innovation in both computing and environmental science.
“In computing, Rhea will enable new advances in AI, ML, and systems that enhance the speed and accuracy of predictions surrounding weather and climate related phenomena,” Krintz said. “By doing so, Rhea will concurrently stimulate new multidisciplinary research in environmental sustainability. These advances are critical for protecting the public, our infrastructure, and food systems from extreme events, natural disasters, wildfires, and their related societal and economic impacts.”
Michela Taufer, an HPC researcher and task force member, agrees Rhea is a powerful tool for interdisciplinary research, bringing together data experts, computer scientists, and climate and environmental scientists to collaborate on urgent climate challenges. By fostering such collaborations, Rhea will help bridge the gap between disciplines needed to accelerate discovery.
“Rhea is not just a tool for today’s researchers, it is a stepping stone for the next generation. It creates new opportunities for education and training, providing students with access to advanced HPC systems,” Taufer said. “This will be invaluable for students, inspiring and preparing them to become the next-generation experts ready to tackle our time’s most pressing scientific and environmental challenges.”
Learn more about the HPC system here.
