A research team member hits an important academic milestone this month.
Background
Through the Africa Rainfall Project, researchers at Delft University of Technology are creating computer simulations of localized rainstorms in sub-Saharan Africa. Thanks to massive, crowdsourced computing power from World Community Grid, they can run these simulations at a high level of resolution, which is exactly what's needed for localized rainstorms. This has never been done before for rainstorms in this region.
This is important because 95% of agriculture in Africa depends on rainfall. The project will use data generated from World Community Grid, data from The Weather Company, and other information to help provide more accurate rainfall forecasts. In turn, these more accurate forecasts could help farmers more successfully raise their crops.
Data storing and sharing
For a number of months, the research team has been working on getting their data ready to be easily shared with other scientists and the public. Since the dataset is very large and complex, this is not an easy task.
The server where the project data will be stored is now ready. The next step will be to assemble and move the data.
Research team member milestone
Camille Le Coz, the research team member who prepares work units and interprets results, will be defending her dissertation this month. We wish her the best in this important milestone!
Current status of work units
World Community Grid is currently sending out generation 70. (A generation is a set of work--in this case, a set of computer simulations of rainfall in sub-Saharan Africa.)
Click here to learn more about World Community Grid's monthly project updates.