Abstract
A major factor in determining what research pursuits are reasonable and feasible with physically-comprehensive climate models is the available computer power. Advances in model realism and capabilities have often followed advances in computer technology. However, because of a variety of technical and physical realities, such as heat dissipation considerations and the speed of light, improvements in raw central processor unit (CPU) power have slackened off considerably during the past ten years when compared to previous decades. Nevertheless, model performance enhancement, in terms of reduced execution time for a given job, is still possible through the effective exploitation of the multiple processors available in current and future generations of supercomputers. Strategies for harnessing the multiple processors of a Cray X-MP/48 for executing a resource-demanding climate model in a highly parallel mode were developed and successfully implemented to achieve a very high performance level. Representative design factors are presented to demonstrate the intimate relationship between the science and technology of climate modelling.
The National Center for Atmospheric Research is sponsored by the National Science Foundation.
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© 1988 Kluwer Academic Publishers
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Chervin, R.M. (1988). On the Relationship Between Computer Technology and Climate Modelling. In: Schlesinger, M.E. (eds) Physically-Based Modelling and Simulation of Climate and Climatic Change. NATO ASI Series, vol 243. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-3043-8_12
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-3043-8_12
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