VISUALIZATION

Despite an unprecedented 17 named storms, the devastation of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita, the 2005 Hurricane Season is only now reaching peak activity. Silicon Graphics supercomputer technology empowers one company's mission to provide advanced warning with highly developed weather forecasting models. Baron Advanced Meteorological Systems (BAMS), a division of Baron Services, Inc., is constantly providing more than 200 broadcast television customers across the country with the latest real-time, site-specific forecast data, modeled using technology from SGI. BAMS processes hurricane weather information multiple times daily, employing SGI Altix systems and SGI InfiniteStorage solutions to run high-performance atmospheric modeling programs. These proprietary models are used to predict potential storm paths and changes. By using a technique called "ensembling," in which sophisticated programs running on SGI Altix systems analyze many possible atmospheric variations, BAMS is able to provide greater accuracy in weather forecasting. The BAMS forecast model received nationwide recognition in 2004 when it was the only model to correctly forecast the path of Hurricane Charley. Making landfall as a Category Four hurricane, Charley ravaged Florida's southern Gulf Coast -- notably the town of Punta Gorda. Other forecasts had the hurricane's eye making landfall up to 150 miles north. "The major benefit of the SGI Altix system is that it has allowed us to expand our numerical weather prediction domains to much larger sizes than before, at much higher resolution," said John McHenry, chief scientist, Baron Advanced Meteorological Systems. "We can also run forecasts much more frequently, at greater speed, with a larger number of model variants. That's important, because different model formulations allow us to produce an ensemble forecast that takes more possibilities into account. Faster storage allows us to get models into system memory faster, eliminating bottlenecks. Additionally, with the Altix, our turnaround time has improved by a factor of 4-8X, and that allows us to disseminate weather data to clients much more quickly." The public receives BAMS' vital forecasting data through a product called VIPIR, developed by Baron Services. As the parent company of BAMS, Baron develops localized weather analysis products for on-air use by broadcast meteorologists, as well as foreign and domestic governments. Its products include real-time radar display and storm tracking, advanced Doppler radar, instant alert systems, weather sensors, weather vans and Internet radar displays. The VIPIR weather system is the first to combine photorealistic mapping, powerful 3D graphics and BAMS forecasting data into a single, real- time environment. Its timeliness and accuracy help television viewers get a clear understanding of the location, path and intensity of approaching storms, so they can make informed decisions about seeking shelter. To ensure continued broadcasting to the areas hardest hit by Hurricane Katrina, Baron Services responded two days before Katrina made landfall in the Gulf, providing technology, equipment and technicians to eight television stations in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. The company also supplied a VIPIR system to CNN to aid in its continuous weather coverage. During the outbreak of hurricanes in Fall 2004, Baron sent 40 systems and representatives to assist clients in the path of those storms. While BAMS is a rising force in the broadcast industry, the Baron subsidiary provides year-round weather forecasting to government, scientific and academic entities. For the last two years, BAMS has relied on an SGI Altix 3700 high-performance compute system powered by Intel Itanium 2 processors and running the Linux OS and SGI Advanced Linux Environment and ProPack. Because its data requires fast access, BAMS employs two SGI InfiniteStorage TP9100 systems. In addition, the company uses SGI Altix 350 systems for research, and runs weather and atmospheric modeling programs on an SGI Origin 3800 that has been in use for four years. "The Altix combines a powerful Intel processor with SGI technology that allows for computing and scalability with both shared and distributed memory," said McHenry. "You cannot be dealing with systems that constantly need to be watched and fixed in a 24/7 operational environment, so we appreciate the stability and robustness of SGI products. Our company slogan is 'technology and people dedicated to saving lives.' That's why we're here. And we need the best equipment to give our customers the information they need to properly inform the public." "In times of potential weather-related catastrophes, SGI Altix technology helps Baron Advanced Meteorological Systems and many national and international organizations deliver the most accurate, real-time scientific information possible to the public," said Dave Parry, senior vice president and general manager, Server and Platform Group, SGI. "We are proud to serve the needs of scientists and technologists by providing powerful tools that allow organizations such as BAMS to better understand the world around us -- and to make that world safer."