New Delhi: India has introduced two high-performance computing (HPC) clusters, Arka and Arunika, to boost climate research and disaster management. Developed by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) in partnership with AMD, these supercomputers are among the most powerful in the country.
Supercomputers for Climate and Weather Analysis
The Arka supercomputer, installed at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, has a capacity of 11.77 PetaFLOPS. It is designed to enhance climate modeling and improve forecasts for extreme weather events such as cyclones, heavy rainfall, and heatwaves.
Similarly, the Arunika cluster, based at the National Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF), Noida, has a computing power of 8.24 PetaFLOPS. It will support oceanic research, marine ecosystem studies, and disaster preparedness.
India’s Most Powerful CPU-Only Supercomputers
Unlike many global supercomputers that integrate GPUs for performance, Arka and Arunika rely entirely on CPUs. This makes them India’s most powerful CPU-based systems, with over 5,000 compute nodes powered by AMD EPYC™ processors.
Advancing Climate Resilience with Technology
Government officials and scientists expect these HPC clusters to significantly enhance India’s weather prediction models. The improved computing power will help authorities issue early warnings for natural disasters, benefiting sectors such as agriculture, water management, and public safety.
AMD, which supplied the processors, emphasized the role of high-performance computing in climate resilience and scientific research. MoES officials highlighted that these systems will contribute to India’s climate adaptation strategies and help policymakers make data-driven decisions. The deployment of Arka and Arunika reflects India’s commitment to strengthening climate research infrastructure and improving disaster response mechanisms.
Also Read –
Â
