Trials begin on 'supercomputer'

Trials have started on a "supercomputer" that will become one of the most powerful in the UK and be used to predict the weather, the Met Office has announced.
The giant IBM machine fills two special halls the size of two football pitches at the Met Office HQ in Exeter, Devon, and will be the second most powerful system in the UK.
By 2011, the computer is anticipated to have a peak performance approaching 1 PetaFlop -- equivalent to more than 100,000 PCs and over 30 times more powerful than what is currently in place.
It will offer 15 million megabytes of memory and require 1.2 megawatts of energy to run.
A Met Office spokesman said the extra power will mean they can achieve more-accurate and detailed short-range weather forecasts through "high-resolution computer simulations".
The system, which is intended to be fully up and running by August, will also be used for research on climate change and its impacts on society and the economy.
John Hirst, Met Office Chief Executive, said: "In a world where the effect of extreme weather events is becoming more severe and the potential impact of global warming is becoming ever more apparent, the Met Office plays an increasingly vital role in researching and forecasting these events.
"The new supercomputer is an important step in delivering our strategic targets."

http://tech.uk.msn.com/news/article....743&ocid=today

Maybe this'll make the weather correct for once! :O