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"Before we had PV-WAVE, it was
difficult to pick out relevant details from the data. Flexible data
manipulation allows you to get the 'big picture,' then to zoom in
on the interesting features. With PV-WAVE it's not a case of can
I do it, but simply how do I do it."
-Mark Webb, Cloud Specialist, Hadley
Centre, UK Meteorological Office
THE PROBLEM
Joint funding by the Department of the Environment and the UK Meteorological
Office has allowed the creation of the Hadley Centre for Climate
Prediction and Research in Bracknell. Its mission is to predict
climate changes over the next 100 years. With terabytes of data
to be analyzed, the centre has turned to visual data analysis to
speed up the process.
Output from climate simulations runs on
supercomputers combined with data from satellites, and data records,
going back many decades, presents the Climate Prediction Centre
with terabytes of data (that is data measured in trillions). The
problem is not finding such data -- it's finding methods to analyze
it.
When scientists want to analyze data as
voluminous as this, there isn't a simple formula that can be used
to find a simple answer. Even the most powerful supercomputer in
the world will not pop out a simple yes/no answer to the most critical
question ever asked -- Are we heading for a climate change or not?
The Hadley Centre would, of course, be the
first to know if it were that straightforward. At their disposal
is one of the most powerful supercomputers in the world - a Cray®
Y-MP.
THE SOLUTION
Climatologists at Hadley use advanced visual data analysis (VDA)
software, PV-WAVE from Vusual Numerics, to analyze their data and
make predictions. Using PV-WAVE, large amounts of data can be manipulated
and presented as visual images for analysis by the most powerful
interpretation machine in the world -- the human brain.
Scientific staff use powerful HP® Series 700 workstations to
analyze their data. According to Alastair Sangster, the workstations
must cope with some demanding tasks. "Our network configuration
is such that each workstation also supports a single X-terminal,
i.e., normally two users share a single CPU. This can put a heavy
load on the host machine, particularly when both users are using
graphics packages."
Within the Hadley Centre are approximately 100 scientific and support
staff. They are divided into groups, with each group looking at
different aspects of climate and climate modeling, working with
different sets of data.
 Mark
Webb and Andy Jones, for example, are cloud specialists. It is well
known that clouds can have both a warming effect and a cooling effect.
They act as a blanket, keeping in warmth, but also as a barrier,
stopping sun from reaching the earth's surface. To be able to provide
an accurate prediction of average global temperature, the action
of the clouds must be understood and built into the model. Webb
and Jones use PV-WAVE software to visualize the effects. Model data
can be mapped onto satellite observations, giving insight into the
relationships between clouds and radiation.
RETURN ON INVESTMENT
"It may sound straightforward," said Webb, "but there are many,
many variables. Clouds can be bright or dark, and both long- and
short-wave radiation must be considered. Before we had PV-WAVE,
it was difficult to pick out relevant details from the data. Flexible
data manipulation allows you to get the 'big picture,' then to zoom
in on the interesting features. The interactive environment is also
a great improvement, allowing the development of new analysis techniques
in a fraction of the time previously required. With PV-WAVE it's
not a case of can I do it, but simply how do I do it," concluded
Webb.
Another area of research is the interaction
between ocean and atmosphere. Simon Tett is looking at the reasons
why in some years the temperature of the sea surface in the Eastern
Pacific is significantly warmer than average and in other years
the temperature is cooler than normal. By using PV-WAVE,
Tett and others aim to build more accurate models of the oceans
and understand the effects of the oceans on the climate of the world.
"El Niño is a good example of this effect," commented Tett. "It
is an oscillation in the temperature of the East Pacific. Depending
on its status, Australia will have a wet or dry year."
Jonathan Gregory is involved in prediction
of sea levels. It is a complicated problem, as several effects have
to be taken into account. As the world warms, the expansion of the
sea will make sea level rise. Glaciers will eventually melt, and
the permanent ice sheets at the poles may eventually melt too. However,
as the atmosphere warms, greater amounts of moisture will be held
in the air. It is also possible that in the short term, snowfall
may increase in Antarctica, producing more ice there.
The results of the Hadley Centre's work
are published via technical papers and journals. Included in the
work are constantly updated predictions of climate change to the
end of the 21st century.
WORLD CLASS PRODUCTS, SERVICES,
AND SUPPORT
Visual Numerics has provided technical software
solutions for numerical analysis and visualization for over 30 years.
The company's software products help users understand complex data
from a variety of sources and build business-critical applications.
Visual Numerics offers two product lines: the IMSL® Numerical
Libraries for powerful mathematical and statistical analysis and
the PV-WAVE® visual data analysis development environment. Visual
Numerics also offers customized consulting services for applications
that involve mathematical, statistical, or visual data analysis
to meet today’s business analytical needs.
The IMSL Numerical Libraries which include
the IMSL C Library, IMSL Fortran Library and JMSL™ Library
for Java™ applications are the industry standard for numerical
analysis. They deliver developers with the breadth and depth of
core algorithms allowing for the rapid development of any application.
Whether developing applications in C, Fortran, or Java, or on UNIX,
Windows or Linux, the robust IMSL Libraries provide the reliable
foundation and the building blocks developers need.
The PV-WAVE family of products which includes
PV-WAVE, TS-WAVE, and JWAVE delivers engineers with the development
tools to efficiently and accurately meet their data analysis needs.
PV-WAVE solutions allow users to rapidly import, manipulate, analyze
and visualize data. The PV-WAVE family also includes robust time
series analysis software as well as the ability to share analysis
results across the enterprise with a Java-based solution. And, unlike
other products, PV-WAVE Advantage includes a sophisticated set of
analysis routines based on the industry-standard IMSL Libraries.
In addition, Visual Numerics Consulting
Services combine technical expertise, decades of hands-on experience
and a combination of powerful products to create the highest quality
solutions possible for your visual data analysis needs.
Visual Numerics unique combination of products
and services rapidly enhance ROI by delivering the highest efficiency,
greatest accuracy and maximum performance.
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Industry
Environment
Application
Predictions in Climate Changes
Product
PV-WAVE
The Hadley Centre For Climate Prediction and Research, which is
part of the Met Office, provides a focus in the United Kingdom for
the scientific issues associated with climate change. It currently
employs around 100 staff and uses two cray T3E supercomputers. Most
of its funding comes from contracts with the Department For Environment,
Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), other United Kingdom government
departments and the European Commission.
Key Benefits
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Climate prediction made easy |
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Large amounts of data can be manipulated |
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Ability to present visual images for analysis |
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Capable of mapping model data onto satellite
observations |
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Flexible data manipulation |
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Extremely interactive environment |
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