The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has inaugurated an advanced high-performance computing (HPC) system, TARANG, to strengthen India’s ocean forecasting and early warning capabilities. This statement was made by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, during a written reply in the Lok Sabha today on 4rth December 2024.
The TARANG HPC system, a state-of-the-art 64-bit machine, is developed to sustain multi-tasking, multi-programming, and a multi-user environment. With a computing capacity of 1 PetaFLOPS and storage capabilities of 2 PetaBytes and 3 PetaBytes for archival, TARANG is equipped to conduct advanced ocean modeling and forecasting tasks. Further, a dedicated 15.5 PetaFLOPS standalone system for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) applications improves its computational prowess.
The facility contains robust technical support systems, including transformers, diesel generators, uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), multiple utility paths, and a lighting system to ensure 99.5% uptime. With scalable architecture and redundancies, it reduces single points of failure, completing operational needs effectively.
TARANG will power state-of-the-art ocean general circulation, ocean-atmosphere coupled, and wave models, supporting major projects of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) such as the Deep Ocean Mission, Mission Mausam, and the Monsoon Mission.
The TARANG facility enables INCOIS to deliver Service Level 3 tsunami warning services for India and 25 other Indian Ocean rim countries. The system will also provide early warnings for storm surges, high waves, swell surges (Kallakadal), and extreme currents.
The workloads include:
- Tsunami Early Warning Systems: Operational models for India and regional countries.
- Next-Generation Ocean State Forecasting: High-resolution nests, advanced data assimilation, and non-hydrostatic dynamics to improve local and regional forecasts.
- Model Development: Enhancing sophisticated models like MOM, ROMS, HYCOM, Wave Watch III, SWAN, Tsunami N2, and ADCIRC.
By leveraging AI and ML through GPU processors, INCOIS seeks to boost forecast accuracy and improve its ocean monitoring capabilities. Numerical modeling of tsunami and storm surges will also benefit from the computational advancements.
This transformative facility positions India as a leader in ocean information services and forecasting, contributing to international safety and scientific research in oceanic sciences. (PR)