How a supercomputer helps us predict the next earthquake

Science · Published 20 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Climate change is a data problem of planetary proportions. To model it, scientists need more than just computers; they need multi-Petabyte storage and dedicated light paths to process the world's most complex environmental signals. This is where the Centre for Environmental Data Analysis comes in.

The Centre for Environmental Data Analysis (CEDA) serves as a critical backbone for the environmental science community. It operates as a national data centre for atmospheric and earth observation, providing the infrastructure necessary to manage massive datasets. This includes information on climate, composition, numerical weather prediction, and satellite imagery. By coordinating data management for the UK atmospheric science and earth observation communities, CEDA ensures that these vital records are not just stored, but are accessible for reuse and research.

A cornerstone of CEDA’s technical capability is JASMIN, a globally unique data-intensive supercomputer designed specifically for environmental science. JASMIN supports the UK and European climate and earth system modelling communities by providing scalable computing services and multi-Petabyte fast storage. This infrastructure allows scientists to perform analyses that would otherwise be impossible, such as developing next-generation climate models, monitoring UK biodiversity trends, or gauging the impact of climate change on global food production.

Beyond raw computing power, CEDA facilitates high-level scientific collaboration. By providing shared resources like the CEDA Archive and JASMIN, the center encourages inter-disciplinary working between diverse scientific groups. This collaborative model is designed to reduce the duplication of effort and resources. Furthermore, CEDA manages specialized hubs like the UK Solar System Data Centre and the IPCC Data Distribution Centre, providing the socio-economic and environmental data required by the United Nations to assess global climate science.

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