Mihir: High performance computing facility inaugurated at Noida

Ministry of Earth Science (MoES) has inaugurated high performance computer system (HPC) or supercomputer Mihir (meaning sun) at National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF), Noida.
The HCP will provide facility for improving weather/climate forecasts. It is country’s largest HPC facility in terms of peak capacity and performance. It also propelled India’s ranking to Top 30 in the list of HPC facilities in world.

Key Facts

With this, MoES has acquired HPC facility total of 6.8 Peta Flops (PF) which has been installed at two of its constituent units: 4.0 PF HPC facility named ‘Pratyush’ at Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune and 2.8 Peta Flops facility at NCMRWF, Noida. It also improved India rank to 4th position after Japan, UK and US interms of dedicated HPC resources for weather/climate forecasts.
Mihir HPC facility will improve following services

• Weather forecasts at block level over India which can predict extreme weather events.
• High resolution seasonal and extended range forecasts of active and break spells of Monsoon.
• Very high resolution coupled models for prediction of cyclones with more accuracy and lead time.
• Ocean state forecasts including marine water quality forecasts at very high resolution.
• Tsunami forecasts with greater lead time.
• Air quality forecasts for various cities.
• Climate projections at very high resolution.

Significance of new HPC facility

• Help in meeting operational requirements of MoES and also support research and development activities on various problems related to Earth Science.
• Help MoES in developing several services for societal benefits catering by building state-of-the-art systems for multi-hazard risk reduction from floods/droughts, cyclones, heat/cold waves, earthquakes and tsunamis.

Month: Current Affairs - January, 2018