* SPIRE (Strategic Programs for Innovative Research)

SPIRE aims to yield the world's most cutting-edge study achievements by best leveraging The next-generation "K computer" supercomputer which will begin operation in 2012. This Program also aims boosting the creation of promotional frameworks for computer science and technology in the study fields under this program.
The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) received proposals that "K computer" should not only satisfy (general use) needs from a wide variety of scientists, but also be applied at the societal or national levels, where specific study disciplines can use "K computer" selectively and strategically. As a result, the Strategic Conference on Next-generation Supercomputers has identified the five strategic fields noted below, which would benefit from K's computational resources and are expected to yield significant social and academic breakthroughs

Field 1 Predictable life science, healthcare and drug discovery foundation
Field 2 New Materials and Energy Creation
Field 3 Projection of Planet Earth Variations for Mitigating Natural Disasters
Field 4 Next-generation manufacturing technology
Field 5 The origin of matter and the universe

Applications for the Program's strategic organizations in each strategic discipline were accepted in 2009 and the feasibility study operator was selected to assess the study projects that the strategic organizations would undertake. Each strategic organization will be at the preliminary phase in 2010 and enter full-scale studies in 2011 (for five years)


2010.07.28
Decision about strategic organizations of"Next-generation Supercomputer Program"(in Japanese)

2010.01.22
Decision about feasibility study operators of"Next-generation Supercomputer Program"(in Japanese)



* Projection of Planet Earth Variations for Mitigating Natural Disasters (Field 3)

Following the feasibility study of the "SPIRE",the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) has been designated as a strategic organization for one of the strategic fields, the "Projection of Planet Earth Variations for Mitigating Natural Disasters (Field 3)"
Our strategic goals are "to globally project tropical cyclone trends in simulated global warming, demonstrate prediction of local heavy rain falls, establish the foundation for next-generation earthquake hazard maps and improve tsunami warning accuracy" in collaboration with universities and research bodies in Japan. Hence, we focus on yielding the world's most cutting-edge achievements, as well as establishing a promotional framework for computer science and technology in this field



 Toward reduction of large-scale natural disasters

   Japan has been attacked almost every year by typhoons,local heavy rainfalls, earthquakes, tsunamis,etc. and suffered severe damage. Especially,on 11 March 2011,it was attacked by a huge earthquake (Magnitude: 9.0) whose epicenter was located off the Pacific coast of Tohoku Area,and subsequent huge tsunami. Around the Tohoku Area,the victims amounted to almost 20,000,and the loss of property was devastating and catastrophic. It was really an unprecedented tragic disaster;we have sincerely re-realized the rage of Nature. Moreover,the tsunami caused severe damages of Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plants,which resulted in massive injection of radioactive material to the environment. Those large-scale natural disasters have huge impacts on the society and economic activities,and therefore,prompt and efficient measures are required immediately to reduce and prevent the disasters.
   Because field experiments cannot be done,in order to evaluate influences of natural hazards which cause those large-scale natural disasters,and verify the measures for disaster prevention and reduction,the measures should be examined by large-scale simulations using supercomputers. We have carried out large-scale simulations on“Earth Simulator”,which used to be the fastest supercomputer in the world. In Field 3,“Projection of Planet Earth Variations for Mitigating Natural Disasters”,of SPIRE(Strategic Programs for Innovative Research),we will carry out simulations of those natural hazards by using the next-generation supercomputer,“K computer”,in collaboration with universities and research institutions in Japan,in order to contribute to the measures for actual disaster prevention and reduction,as well as to stimulate the basic research. Specifically,we will try to project the intensity and number of typhoons,hurricanes and cyclones globally under global warming condition,demonstrate the feasibility of numerical prediction of local heavy rainfalls,provide the bases for next-generation earthquake hazard maps,improve the accuracy of tsunami warning,and reduce the damage by natural hazards through natural disaster simulation for entire urban areas. In that process,we will pursue the most efficient synergistic effect of using two supercomputers,“K computer”and“Earth Simulator”We will also try to educate young scientists whom our society depend on in future.
   Unfortunately,we cannot precisely predict when,where and how big in magnitude an earthquake and subsequent tsunami will occur even by using“K computer”. However,if we can carry out faster and more accurate simulations on natural hazards,including typhoons and local heavy rainfalls,we can prepare more effective and efficient measures,and design urban areas which are more resistant to the natural hazards.

Chief Officer of the HPCI Strategic Program, Field 3   
Shiro Imawaki   
(Director General, Data Research Center for Marine-Earth Sciences,    JAMSTEC)