Earth Simulator Predicts Seasonal Climate Variations #DigInfo

Professor Toshio Yamagata, in the Graduate School of Science at the University of Tokyo, is investigating various effects of climate variations on the Earth. This work is part of a project to predict climate variations, using the Earth Simulator at JAMSTEC's Application Laboratory.

"Seasonal prediction data simulated by the Earth Simulator can be used not only for our understanding mechanisms of global climate variations due to global warming but also for enhancing infrastructure in developing countries for disaster prevention such as for the adjustment of water levels in dams before torrential downpours. Moreover, seasonal prediction data from the Earth Simulator can be used for preventing infectious diseases carried by vectors like mosquitoes."

In developed countries, climate variation data can also be reflected in predictions about supply and demand for energy and food, changes in cereal yields and prices, revenue from foods and beverages, and demand for consumables such as clothing and air-conditioners.

In addition, it's been recently confirmed that climate variation phenomena are also occurring in the South Indian and South Atlantic Oceans. These include subtropical dipole-mode events, which are similar to El Niño and La Niña. To find out how such long-term variations happen, researchers need detailed field data and the Earth Simulator, which uses a supercomputer to analyze and predict variations.

"Ocean current forecast data can contribute to efficient fisheries, improvement of oil consumption of merchant vessels, maritime safety and marine security."

Predictions from the Earth Simulator are expected to be useful in many fields. Professor Yamagata would also like to use this type of data to provide information ervices worldwide.

Uploaded by Diginfonews on Jan 30, 2012

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