What is modelling infrastructure?
At NOC, modelling infrastructure is the technical backbone that enables researchers to simulate and understand how Earth's systems, such as the climate, oceans, or ecosystems, behave and change.
It is the combination of computers, software, and data, along with the workflows that link them all together, that underpins our work within Global, Regional, Coastal, Ecosystem, and Applied Modelling.
What does modelling infrastructure include?
These are designed to run large, complex simulations. To put their scale in perspective, they are large computers several hundred times the size of an ordinary laptop.
These include specific climate or ocean models, such as NEMO, WRF, and MEDUSA.
These handle huge datasets, often 10 to 100 times the size of a laptop's hard drive. They manage everything from input sources, like satellite data, to the outputs generated by model results.
These are essential for preparing data for the Model Computer Codes, analysing outputs from the simulations, and visualising the results.
These coordinate runs and track experiments. They ensure reproducibility, meaning other scientists can repeat the experiments to verify results.
This ensures scientists and collaborators can use the system effectively.
These allow expertise to be shared and developed between groups of scientists, both within NOC and across the wider scientific community.
Why does it matter?
Simply put, without this physical, digital, and collaborative infrastructure, we cannot undertake the vital modelling work outlined in our Global, Regional, Coastal, Ecosystem, and Applied Modelling research.
What is NOC's physical infrastructure?
Our physical hardware is anchored by Anemone, NOC's high-performance supercomputer built for running large, complex calculations.
Anemone has 4,480 processing cores. That is roughly the same computing power as 400 to 500 modern laptops working together. These cores are spread across 70 interconnected servers which communicate through an ultra-fast network and share a dedicated high-speed storage system. This setup allows researchers to run simulations and analyses far beyond the capacity of ordinary computers.
What is NOC's digital infrastructure?
Our digital infrastructure provides the expertise to develop the software, tools, and workflows that make many aspects of modelling possible. It supports the full research lifecycle, covering everything from model code development to automated, reproducible experiments and open data sharing.
These systems ensure that results are traceable, transparent, and reusable. This helps scientists collaborate effectively and maintain confidence in their findings.
What collaborative infrastructure does NOC have?
Partnerships are central to our work. One of our key modelling partnerships involves the UK Met Office, the British Antarctic Survey, and the Centre for Polar Observation and Modelling.
Together, we form the Joint Marine Modelling Programme (JMMP). This provides a forum to develop and support the UK's ocean modelling community. The JMMP works closely with the Nucleus for European Modelling of the Ocean (NEMO) consortium to develop underpinning model capabilities.
NOC is also a direct partner, alongside four other European institutes, supporting and evolving the NEMO framework for the benefit of the wider ocean modelling community.
Interested in learning more about our modelling work?
NOC is a world-leader in numerical modelling of the global oceans, shelf seas and ocean biogeochemistry.