CHEYENNE The new Cheyenne supercomputer is the 22nd-fastest in the world and can help scientists predict the weather days, or even months, in advance.

The connection between the new supercomputer and city of Cheyenne became stronger Tuesday during a program at the National Center for Atmospheric Research-Wyoming Supercomputing Center.

The center is located near the western edge of Cheyenne at 8120 Veta Drive in a Cheyenne LEADS-owned business park.

The $30 million Cheyenne supercomputer has been up and running at the local NCAR facility since January. But on Tuesday, it was inaugurated as part of the citys 150th anniversary activities.

The supercomputer is named for both the city and the Native American tribe of the same name.

The new supercomputer has three times the power of the original Yellowstone supercomputer and is three times as efficient, Gov. Matt Mead said.

The Yellowstone supercomputer was installed five years ago, when the NCAR facility was built here. Since then, it has been available for use by University of Wyoming researchers and students and other scientists.

UW researchers have led nearly 80 scientific projects on the Yellowstone supercomputer, UW President Laurie Nichols said, noting the universitys relationship is ongoing.

UW is so fortunate to be part of this incredible partnership, she said.

The Cheyenne supercomputer can help diversify the economy by attracting various companies to the state, Mead said.

When we think about the opportunity to recruit companies here because we can point to this as an example of the direction Wyoming is going, that is incredible, Mead said.

National Center for Atmospheric Research Director James Hurrell said supercomputer models can help predict snowstorms.

The research that we conduct as a community, powered through this computing center, relates to every sector of our economy, every part of our country and, indeed, to the entire Earth system, Hurrell said.

Cheyenne (the supercomputer) will help us push the boundaries of science even further.

It will give scientists a much better understanding of how solar disturbances affect the planet, he added. This understanding can lead to ways to better protect satellites, communication systems and power grids from solar storms.

The Yellowstone supercomputer is still operating at the NCAR facility. But the new supercomputer will replace it completely in several months.

Cheyenne Mayor Marian Orr said she likes to tell people outside of the Capital City about its supercomputer connections.

I do enjoy the look of surprise when I meet with visitors, not only from out-of-state, but around the world, when they ask what Cheyenne is home to.

When I say that were home to one of the worlds largest supercomputers, theyre amazed, she said. I love the look of disbelief and awe.

The research and information produced here will give resource managers and policy experts the knowledge they need to best protect and advance us in the next 150 years, Orr said.

Follow this link:

New supercomputer welcomed during Cheyenne's 150th birthday ... - Wyoming Tribune