Administration plans to remove supercomputers from major U.S. weather and climate research center

A major American weather and climate research hub could soon lose access to one of its most important scientific tools — a high-powered supercomputing facility used to run advanced forecasting and climate models.

According to a letter from the National Science Foundation, the supercomputing center currently tied to the National Center for Atmospheric Research is expected to be transferred to an outside entity. The facility supports research used to improve forecasts of extreme weather, climate trends, and aviation turbulence, and is used by roughly 1,500 researchers from more than 500 universities nationwide.

Scientists say the separation of the computing center from the research institution could disrupt access to critical high-performance computing. This technology is essential for simulating weather systems and testing forecast models — work that ultimately helps improve the accuracy of the forecasts Americans rely on daily.

Federal agencies also depend on the system. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration uses research developed at the center for next-generation forecasting models and relies on the supercomputing infrastructure for some current operations.

Researchers and former leaders in the atmospheric science community warn that restructuring or fragmenting the institution could weaken U.S. weather modeling capabilities and slow progress in forecasting improvements.

Officials say details about the new managing organization and the timeline for the transition remain unclear. The broader scientific community continues to push for preserving the research center’s current structure, arguing it plays a vital role in national weather prediction and public safety.

Credit: CNN Newsource

Explore: NBCPalmSprings.com, where we are connecting the Valley.