Distributed supercomputing using ACTS

Abstract

One of NASA's research and development satellite communications projects is the Advanced Communications Technology Satellite (ACTS) program. Applications utilizing high speed networks will be developed using satellite links. One such application is a distributed coupled global climate model. Climate models to study phenomena such as El Nino have been extremely useful in developing predictions and understanding global climate change. The high cost of running extended simulations necessary to substantiate theories can be reduced by using a network of supercomputers. A coupled ocean-atmosphere model has been implemented on a network of three Cray supercomputers.