We eagerly await the next generation of computational power because we know we can do even better in the future. The new system will use a highly parallel computer architecture to immediately provide a significant increase in computational capacity as compared to the current system, a Cray C-90 supercomputer from Silicon Graphics, Incorporated. The new supercomputer, which will be housed at the Suitland Federal Center in Suitland, Md., will be installed beginning in December 1998 and will be integrated into routine operations beginning in the spring of 1999. The transition of operations to the new system will be completed in late 1999. As a result of this new supercomputer, the National Weather Service can run higher resolution models with improved physics to produce forecasts with better resolution and accuracy and valid at longer time scales than ever before.
Supercomputers are the key to advances in weather forecasting.
Numerical weather models provide important guidance to weather forecasters. The models incorporate a variety of observations including temperature, wind, precipitation, pressure, and a host of other meteorological information from sources on the ground, in the air and in space. The contract is the result of a streamlined, competitive procurement process initiated by the Department of Commerce and conducted on a full and open basis, allowing all domestic and foreign companies to participate.