Page 17 - EngineerIT May 2022

ICT SUPERCOMPUTING

Meet your new weather forecaster:

the supercomputer

Jim Holland, Regional Director: Africa, Lenovo

he science of weather forecasting found in the science, engineering and business sectors, they can reduce the time taken to
has changed beyond recognition, solve problems to days rather than months and they’re really demonstrating their mettle
Tin fact, today, thanks to when it comes to weather predictions and climate modelling.
supercomputers, it’s possible to make However, for supercomputers to make weather predictions, they need to obtain data
much more accurate predictions about from somewhere and this is proving to be a struggle on our continent.
the weather. In Africa, according to The Washington Post, we have just one-eighth the minimum
But, how do these supercomputers density of weather stations recommended by the World Meteorological Organisation,
make their predictions? First, it makes which equates to a problematic lack of data about dozens of countries that are the most
sense to explain what a supercomputer vulnerable to climate change.
is. Put simply, it is a large array of smaller This lack of data has meant imprecise forecasts and poor early-warning systems for
computers and processing equipment people experiencing deadly cyclones, lengthy droughts and powerful floods. Researchers
aggregated to make one large, smart say the lack of data has also led to challenges in measuring the extent of climate change,
and very powerful computer. Frequently making it difficult to prove global warming’s impact on the continent.

EngineerIT | May 2022 | 15