On 21 May 2017, hundreds of children visited the Institute of Atmospheric Physics (IAP), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), to learn how an Earth System Simulator can “CT scan” Earth and its atmosphere. The event was part of CAS’ Public Science Day, when all CAS institutes open their doors to the public and engage children with science.
The Earth System Simulator, or Earth System Science Numerical Simulator Facility, is being developed by the IAP, Sugon, Tsinghua University, and the National Satellite Meteorological Center. The construction of CAS’ Huairou Campus, to accommodate the facility, will begin at the end of 2017. The facility will be capable of producing a numerical simulation of Earth, and features a parallel framework and visualization system. It can be used to predict evolutionary changes in ocean currents, the atmosphere, land surface processes, and ecology.