Transcript Jon Blower - University of Reading

The Reading e-Science
Centre
Jon Blower
Reading e-Science Centre
Environmental Systems Science Centre
University of Reading
United Kingdom
Background
• Formed in Nov 2003 as “Centre of
Excellence” for environmental e-Science
– Joint venture between ESSC and School of
Systems Engineering
– 50% NERC, 50% EPSRC funding hence joint
mission to promote e-Science in environmental
sciences and locally at Reading
• Since Nov 2005, 100% NERC funded
– Hence must focus on NERC activities
– Although still active locally
Key activities
• Produce software tools for environmental e-Science
– Mapping server and interactive website
– Secure environmental data server
– Linking of NERC clusters at ESSC, Proudman Oceanographic Labs
and British Antarctic Survey
• Engage with industry and govt agencies
– Strong links with British Maritime Technology and Met Office
– Research Fellow sponsored by Schlumberger
• Encourage uptake of Web Service standards in the
community
– For greater interoperability
• Encourage development and use of local e-Science
infrastructure
– E.g. Campus Grid
– ESSC are key users of current Grid (Kevin Hodges)
Using the Campus Grid: example from
ESSC
• TRACK program identifies and
tracks storms in numerical model
output
– Identifies pressure lows and
vorticity highs
• Use Condor to run TRACK over
very large numbers of datasets
– Datasets are downloaded from
the Internet on-demand
• Then produce statistics and
diagnostics using the results
– Tells us about the predictability of
storms
– Also how storms respond to
climate change
• Bengtsson et al, 2006 “Storm
tracks and climate change”
(Journal of Climate)
Lizzie Froude, Kevin Hodges, Lennart Bengtsson
Access Grid at ESSC
• Internet-based
videoconferencing
using multicast
• Uses InSORS software
• Enables distributed
meetings between
multiple participants
• Can share powerpoint
slides and other apps
• Free to use!
– Email us to book
[email protected]