Can Home Computers Run Hurricane Models?

In summary: Any suggestions?In summary, IBM has delivered a supercomputer that is twice as powerful as the current National Weather Service model. The system requires a significant amount of effort to set up and use, and is not likely to be available to the public for some time.
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dimensionless
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It is possible to run any of these hurricane models on a home desktop? If so, does anyone know where I can get information on the models? Can I download the model/source code/program itself? Will I need a data feed from the national weather service?
 
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http://www-03.ibm.com/servers/eserver/pseries/news/pressreleases/2003/jun/weather.html

IBM IBM eServer p690 and FAStT500 Storage Server
The supercomputer will be delivered in stages. The first phase—a cluster of 44 IBM IBM eServer p690 servers supported by 42 terabytes of IBM TotalStorage FAStT500 Storage Server disk storage—doubles the current computing power for the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service.

IBM will expand the system to reach a peak speed well in excess of 100 teraflops by 2009. It would take one person with a calculator more than 80 million years to tabulate the number of calculations a 100 teraflop supercomputer can handle in a single second.

Thats the kinda computer system they run hurricane models on.
 
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Models like the kind they are plastering all over CNN and such now a days are not off the shelf programs. They are going to be proprietary codes and are not going to be cheap.
 
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... was doing some searching about weather modeling software a while back and although running them on PC (other than some skinned versions, some versions have been available in the past as demos) other than in simple examples (?) is "doomed", the sources at least partially are available for packages like "MM5" and "FMS" ... getting them running may require quite a bit of effort and would think are very complex indeed.
 
  • #5
FredGarvin said:
Models like the kind they are plastering all over CNN and such now a days are not off the shelf programs. They are going to be proprietary codes and are not going to be cheap.
I figured that some journal articles had probably been written on the subject and that they might contain code.
 

FAQ: Can Home Computers Run Hurricane Models?

1. How accurate are hurricane models run on a PC?

Hurricane models run on a PC can vary in accuracy depending on the specific model used and the quality of the data input. Generally, these models have high accuracy in predicting the track of a hurricane, but may have more difficulty predicting intensity changes.

2. What factors are taken into account when running hurricane models on a PC?

Hurricane models on a PC take into account various factors such as the current environmental conditions, historical weather data, and the shape and structure of the hurricane. They also consider atmospheric conditions such as wind speed, temperature, and humidity.

3. Can hurricane models on a PC predict the exact path of a hurricane?

No, hurricane models on a PC cannot predict the exact path of a hurricane. They provide a range of possible paths and their likelihood, but the actual path of a hurricane can be affected by various unpredictable factors such as changes in the environment or steering currents.

4. How long does it take to run a hurricane model on a PC?

The time it takes to run a hurricane model on a PC can vary depending on the complexity of the model and the speed of the computer. Generally, it can take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours.

5. Are there any limitations to running hurricane models on a PC?

Yes, there are some limitations to running hurricane models on a PC. These models rely on data input, so if the data is inaccurate or incomplete, the model's predictions may also be inaccurate. Additionally, there are still many uncertainties in predicting the behavior of hurricanes, so these models should be used as a tool for guidance rather than definitive predictions.

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