Backgrounder: UVic Climate Research Gets a Super-Boost
This is the first vector-based supercomputer in Western Canada. Vector computers process data and fetch information from memory in large chunks, as opposed to parallel computers, which process information bit by bit. Vector computing is a huge advantage when dealing with the many variables involved in climate modelling.
The supercomputer will speed up climate simulations by a factor of 20. For example, a recent simulation spanning 20,000 years took six months of real time to complete on the UVic group’s current computer system. The NEC supercomputer would process it in a week.
This supercomputer system is about the size of 12 large refrigerators.
The supercomputer will be used by faculty, post-doctoral fellows, research associates and graduate students at UVic, researchers from other universities in Western Canada, and researchers within the Canadian Centre for Climate Modelling and Analysis (CCCma), a division of Environment Canada housed at UVic.
UVic’s climate modelling group consists of three faculty members, seven research associates and 14 graduate students. Members come from diverse backgrounds in physics, mathematics, engineering, oceanography and geology and from all over the world.
Japanese computer manufacturer NEC Corporation is one of the world’s leading providers of Internet, broadband network and enterprise business solutions dedicated to meeting the needs of its global base of customers. For more information visit www.nec.com.
Cray Inc. designs and manufactures supercomputers used by government, industry and academia worldwide for applications ranging from scientific research to product design and testing to manufacturing. Cray is a re-seller of NEC SX series supercomputers in North America.
The Canada Foundation for Innovation is an independent corporation established by the federal government to strengthen the ability of universities, colleges, research hospitals and non-profit research institutions to carry out world-class research that will benefit Canadians.
The B.C. Knowledge Development Fund provides capital funding for research equipment and facilities for public postsecondary institutions, teaching hospitals and affiliated non-profit agencies. It is administered through B.C.’s Ministry of Advanced Education.
< Back to ReleaseThe supercomputer will speed up climate simulations by a factor of 20. For example, a recent simulation spanning 20,000 years took six months of real time to complete on the UVic group’s current computer system. The NEC supercomputer would process it in a week.
This supercomputer system is about the size of 12 large refrigerators.
The supercomputer will be used by faculty, post-doctoral fellows, research associates and graduate students at UVic, researchers from other universities in Western Canada, and researchers within the Canadian Centre for Climate Modelling and Analysis (CCCma), a division of Environment Canada housed at UVic.
UVic’s climate modelling group consists of three faculty members, seven research associates and 14 graduate students. Members come from diverse backgrounds in physics, mathematics, engineering, oceanography and geology and from all over the world.
Japanese computer manufacturer NEC Corporation is one of the world’s leading providers of Internet, broadband network and enterprise business solutions dedicated to meeting the needs of its global base of customers. For more information visit www.nec.com.
Cray Inc. designs and manufactures supercomputers used by government, industry and academia worldwide for applications ranging from scientific research to product design and testing to manufacturing. Cray is a re-seller of NEC SX series supercomputers in North America.
The Canada Foundation for Innovation is an independent corporation established by the federal government to strengthen the ability of universities, colleges, research hospitals and non-profit research institutions to carry out world-class research that will benefit Canadians.
The B.C. Knowledge Development Fund provides capital funding for research equipment and facilities for public postsecondary institutions, teaching hospitals and affiliated non-profit agencies. It is administered through B.C.’s Ministry of Advanced Education.