A Methodology For Developing High Performance Computing Models: Storm-Scale Weather Prediction

A methodology for developing future generations of a storm-scale weather prediction model for Massively Parallel Processing is described. The forecast model is the Advanced Regional Prediction System (ARPS), a three-dimensional, fully compressible, non-hydrostatic predictive model. In the short term, the computational goals include developing a portable, scalable model for distributed memory SIMD and MIMD archi-tectures, while preserving a high degree of modularity to support rapid design and validation, maintainability , educational goals and operational testing. Longer term computational goals include a parallel adaptive mesh reenement scheme. A FortranD/High Performance Fortran version of the ARPS provides portabil-ity in the current version of the model, and supports future model research goals. INTRODUCTION We present a survey of issues by the Center for Analysis and Prediction of Storms (CAPS) at the University of Oklahoma, and the Northeast Parallel Architec-tures Center (NPAC) at Syracuse University for applying parallel computing technology to operational storm-scale numerical weather prediction. CAPS is a National Science Foundation Science and Technology Center with the mission of demonstrating the practicability of storm-scale numerical weather prediction. A centerpiece of this eeort is the development of a multi-scale, scalable/parallel model{the Advanced Regional Prediction System (ARPS){ that is based on advanced numerical techniques and treatments of physical processes, and that can be applied to weather phenomena on scales ranging from a few kilometers and tens of minutes (individual thunderstorms) to hundreds of kilometers and several hours (storm complexes and mesoscale systems) (Droege-meier 1990; Lilly 1990). Due to the sensitivity of small-scale weather to local forcing, and the future availability of a national network of large bandwidth WSR-88D (formerly called NEXRAD) Doppler radars, from which the ARPS will obtain its initial conditions, CAPS views its research as a prototype foundation for self-contained regional prediction centers. A numerical weather prediction model running on massively parallel computers is central to this plan. NPAC is a parallel computing research center supported by industry, government, and university funding with the mission of applying parallel computing technology to large scale problems in science and industry. The FortranD portable, parallel compiler is a key technology development project being carried out at NPAC and Rice within the Center for Research in Parallel Computation. FortranD is a research prototype of industry standard High Performance Fortran (High Performance Fortran Forum 1992), and is central to our plans for developing a high performance ARPS. Our principal goal for the CAPS/NPAC collaboration is to attain problem …