The Japan Meteorological Agency has received a new supercomputer system from Fujitsu, a Japanese multinational ICT equipment and services corporation, for use in linear rainband forecasting. The occurrence of linear rainbands, which can trigger heavy rain and natural calamities like landslides and flooding, can be predicted by the new supercomputer system.
The JMA will start operations of the new system on March 1, 2023. Fujitsu will support the JMA with the new system in its attempts to deliver more precise and timely forecasts, enabling authorities to better prepare for heavy rain occurrences and provide earlier warnings in case of disasters.
By preventing and mitigating disasters, Fujitsu shows its commitment to helping build a society that is safer, more secure, and resilient.
New system to realize greater accuracy for weather forecasts
In many regions all over the world, there is an increased risk of weather-related disasters like landslides and floods brought on by sudden heavy rain. As a result of its subtropical climate, Japan is still particularly vulnerable to this risk and frequently experiences torrential downpours that pose a serious risk to both human life and material assets,
Linear rainbands, a meteorological phenomenon that can happen when cumulonimbus clouds slowly move or persist for several hours over the same location, are frequently responsible for heavy rains.
Consequently, in order to prevent and lessen the impact of rain-related disasters, an early prediction of the development of linear rainbands is important.
To overcome this issue, the JMA introduced a brand-new supercomputer system based on the “FUJITSU Supercomputer PRIMEHPC FX1000,” which offers high performance and great reliability. This system will help the JMA increase the accuracy of its linear rainband forecasting.
JMA has been developing linear rainband forecasting technology since June 2022 using supercomputer “Fugaku” and plans to leverage the results in the development of the new system.
Future Plans
In the future, Fujitsu will continue to support JMA initiatives, such as the advancement of observation and forecasting technologies like the JMA’s large-scale central “AMeDAS” system (automated meteorological data acquisition system).
By utilizing its top-tier supercomputing technology, Fujitsu will continue to contribute to society’s efforts to address issues, such as mitigating and preventing floods and other water-related disasters.
