Summary
The UK's Met Office has launched a new supercomputer, hosted on Microsoft's Azure cloud, which aims to improve weather forecasts, offering more detailed predictions up to 14 days in advance. This new system, powered entirely by renewable energy, was delayed from its original release due to the pandemic but promises enhanced weather prediction capabilities and improved climate change assessments.
Key Facts
- The Met Office's new supercomputer improves weather predictions, offering detailed forecasts up to 14 days ahead.
- The system is cloud-based and runs on Microsoft's Azure, marking the first time the Met Office is not hosting it independently.
- It performs 60 quadrillion calculations per second, which is four times more than its previous system.
- The supercomputer will help improve forecasts for airports and energy companies, aiding in planning for blackouts and energy surges.
- It is powered entirely by renewable energy and aims to help with climate change-related challenges like flooding and wildfires.
- The exact location of the supercomputer is secret, but it is located in the south of England across two data centers.
- Security is a priority following recent cyber hacks, and the Met Office is confident in the system's security enhancements.
- The project was delayed from its original schedule due to the pandemic affecting silicon availability.
