Cloud Computing

Infrastructure Gaps in Atmospheric Research

Earth system modeling stands as one of the most computationally intensive pursuits in scientific research. Today, the vast majority of comprehensive Earth model simulations take place within government supercomputing facilities in the most economically advanced nations. This setup restricts capacity and accessibility for many researchers, particularly those in the Global South. Additionally, at present, the enormous datasets produced by these Earth system models and observational Earth system data demand robust computing systems and networks, thereby further restricting the geographical and institutional scope of research endeavors. These significant technological barriers impede progress in atmospheric science on a global scale.

Cloud for Climate

Cloud for Climate is a collaboration between SilverLining, the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), and the Amazon Sustainability Data Initiative aimed at accelerating global research in atmospheric science. In partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS), we have established a cloud-based environment for the Community Earth System Model (CESM). In 2020, we conducted an advanced study of near-term and multi-decadal Earth system dynamics in this cloud-based environment, marking the first-ever full-scale production of Earth system model simulations in the cloud, in this case, on AWS. Led by scientists at the CGD laboratory at NCAR, this study addresses crucial questions in near-term Earth system trends while pioneering a groundbreaking approach to accelerating atmospheric science and broadening access to essential tools and information. Listen to this AWS podcast episode to learn more.
 

Podcast Overview
Video Overview

Transforming Research Capabilities In The Global South

Among the initial beneficiaries of cloud-based Earth system modeling capabilities and datasets are researchers from countries in the Global South. Models and datasets generated from model simulations are being made accessible in the cloud through the Amazon Sustainable Data Initiative, providing open access to researchers worldwide, facilitating a new level of transparency and opportunity to study near-term Earth system risks and possible responses. The project team aims to significantly expand the availability of Earth system models and related datasets in user-friendly cloud-based services.

In October 2023, at the WCRP Open Science Conference in Kigali, Rwanda, SilverLining hosted a highly oversubscribed Cloud for Climate workshop. In collaboration with the African Institute of Mathematical Sciences (AIMS), scientists from NCAR, and AWS, this workshop offered attendees the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in running CESM on public cloud services.

Access the ARISE CESM Datasets

The Assessing Impacts and Responses of Intervention on the Earth Systems (ARISE) Program is a collaboration among senior Earth system model developers and Earth systems impacts researchers to define, develop, and deliver high-fidelity (representing, in detail, relevant systems and processes) simulations of scenarios for near-term Earth system change and possible sunlight reflection. The effort began in 2020 with the first-ever high-fidelity Earth system model simulations of Stratospheric Aerosol Injection (SAI) under median scenarios for Earth system change using two major models—the National Center for Atmospheric Research’s Community Earth System Model (CESM) and the UK MET Office UK Earth System Model (UKESM). These simulations produced an unprecedented and highly comprehensive dataset for studying the influence of SAI on the Earth system — now widely adopted by researchers. 

Access to the open datasets for SRM research is hosted on the AWS cloud from ARISE-SAI. It comprises simulations conducted with CESM, with the goal of simulating a plausible deployment of SAI for sunlight reflection. These simulations enable the community to assess the Earth system responses. Read publications on research that use the ARISE dataset.

Media

  • ARISE Dataset Release Celebration at the 28th CESM Workshop

    Video [68 mins], June 2023

    Click Here

  • The Transformational Possibility of Earth System Models on the Cloud

    Video [69 mins], Nov. 2021

    Click Here

  • AWS: Fix This Podcast

    Podcast [27 mins], Nov. 2021

    Click Here

  • Expanding Science Research Capabilities in the Global South

    Video [20 mins], Nov. 2022

    Click Here

“Cloud access to [Earth system] models and datasets has huge potential to capacitate developing nation scientists to actually do good research, publish in good journals, and get into the academic playing field because we’re really not there yet compared to, say, the U.S. and European and Australian researchers.”

Chris Lennard, Research Scientist, CSAG, University of Cape Town, Lighthouse Focal Point for Africa, WCRP; Lead Author, IPCC AR6 WG2 Africa chapter