HPC, our Universe and our Earth

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Madeleine Gregory
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1 1 HPC, our Universe and our Earth W.K. Kwan Assistant IT Director (previously known as the Computer Centre), HKU 21 May, 2015

2 2 Who am I? Asst. IT Director in ITS, HKU 1976 B.Sc. Mech. Engin. in HKU 1976/11 Postgrad. in Mech. Engin. Studying flow distribution within a plate distillation column on a rare chance switched from a user to work in HKU Computer Centre 1994 designated to work on the establishment of the HPC and research computing support team, till now

3 3 My other particulars Still curious on all branches of knowledge and technologies Quite OK in traditional Chinese Very willing to be really participated in many scientific researches Cultivate for more than 190 PhDs in different disciplines during the last 20 years

4 4 The University of Hong Kong

5 5 Role of ITS in HPC Support Computing facilities provider Solution consultant (hardware, network, software advice, self-developed program optimization, parallelization) Information exchange International Research Collaboration contact HPC GridCert publisher (ApgridPMA)

6 6 Study of the Universe involving use of HPC in HKU (mostly from Physics, Chemistry and Earth Sciences Depts)

7 7 Study of Cosmology and Astronomy Modeling the large-scale structure of the Universe Formation and evolution of galaxies and clusters of galaxies Physics of the intergalactic and intracluster gas Study in fundamental physics in the early Universe Effects of dark energy and modified gravity on structure formation Parameter estimation and model selection using large astronomical datasets generated by cosmic microwave background experiments and large galaxy redshift surveys Theoretical simulations vital for efficient and effective use of different super-telescope facilities on ground or in space

8 8 Study of the Local Astronomical Environment From the upper levels of the Earth's atmosphere to the stars and gas clouds of the galaxy Modeling solar and planetary magnetohydrodynamics and galactic dynamos Modeling star and planet formation Understanding the local astronomical environment from the upper levels of the Earth's atmosphere, to space weather, to gas and dust around stars

9 Study on the theory of the strong force using the numerical techniques of Lattice QCD To increase the predictive power of the Standard Model of particle physics and other relevant stronglyinteracting field theories by numerical simulation of lattice-regularized quantum field theory, for solving the quantum chromodynamics (QCD) theory of quarks and gluons. The estimation of a huge multi-dimensional integral over quark and gluon degrees of freedom using Monte Carlo importance sampling (dimension of the integral is proportional to the volume of space-time under consideration) 9

10 10 Other related studies Studies of the structure and dynamics of condensed matter, molecular and plasma systems using high intensity light and neutron beamlines

11 11 Addressing the Science Challenges

12 12 How did the universe begin and how is it evolving? What is the physics of the early universe? How did structure first form? What are the roles of dark matter and dark energy? When were the first stars, black holes and galaxies born? How do galaxies evolve? How are stars born and how do they evolve?

13 13 How do stars and planetary systems develop and is life unique to our planet? How common are planetary systems and is ours typical? How does the Sun influence the environment of the Earth and the rest of the Solar System? Is there life elsewhere in the universe?

14 14 What are the fundamental constituents and fabric of the universe and how do they interact? What are the fundamental particles? What is the nature of space - time? Is there a unified framework? What is the nature of dark matter? What is the nature of dark energy? What is the nature of nuclear and hadronic matter? What is the origin of the matter - antimatter asymmetry?

15 15 How can we explore and understand the extremes of the universe? How do the laws of physics work when driven to the extremes? How can high energy particles and gravitational waves tell us about the extreme universe? How do ultra-compact objects form, what is their nature and how does extreme gravity impact on their surroundings?

16 The Atoms and Molecules in Space Observations from ground Observations from space Palomar Observatory Hubble in orbit. NASA For more information please visit HKU Space Astronomy Laboratory website: 16

17 The Atoms and Molecules in Space Space in Macro Scale Space in Micro Scale H C N O For more information please visit HKU Space Astronomy Laboratory website: 17

18 From Supernova to Supercomputer Spectroscopic data analysis Complex imaging analysis Molecular modeling High energy physics Complex cosmological and astronomical simulations For more information please visit HKU Space Astronomy Laboratory website: 18

19 19 Observation and deduction based on observing devices of finite resolution and finite dimension (time/space), on top of accumulated facts of also finite dimension. 坐井觀天, 曰天小者, 非天小也, 其所見小也夏蟲不可與語冰, 非無冰也, 以其未見冰也!

20 20 Information gathered from my different users, I know little; and each of them should also only know little!

21 21 Our Earth

22 22 South to North Water Diversion Project (SNWDP) ( 南水北調工程 )

23 23 The University of Hong Kong Large-Scale Water Resources Management Dr. CHEN Ji ( 陳驥博士 ) Civil Engin. HKU Project Description 1) to investigate the status of water resources over the main four river basins, the Yangtze River, the Yellow River, the Haihe and the Huaihe, in China 2) to understand the on-going South to North Water Diversion Project (SNWDP) in China 3) to identify the different usages of the diverted water 4) to study the effects of the diverted water on the evapotranspiration over the northern China Project Duration September 2004 to August 2007

24 24 Large-Scale Water Resources Management Project Achievements The three water diversion routes in the SNWDP will influence on the evaporation differently. In the east route, the increased evaporation is about 0.13%, the middle route is about 0.53% and the west route is about 1.04%. Using High Performance Computing Cluster The HPC in HKUCC provides the basic platform for fulfilling the computation requirements of the project

25 25 SNWDP ( 南水北調 ) Source: ttp://

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29 29 GSM/RSM The Global Spectral Model (GSM)/Regional Spectral Model (RSM) system is applied to conduct researches and applications related to the earth systems of the atmosphere, the land surface and the ocean at the global and regional scales, respectively GSM is used to simulate the global climate RSM is used to dynamically downscale the GSM output for a specific region, i.e., the Pearl River Delta and the southern China

30 30 GSM/RSM VIC Routing Model

31 31 Bo(hai) introduced into Xin(jiang) ( 引渤入新 ( 疆 ) 工程 ) vs The Three Gorges Dam Project ( 三峡工程 )

32 32 Many similarities Also many dissimilarities

33 33 The facts 97.2% of the water resources on Earth is in the oceans China is very poor in water resources as compared to other countries in the world To sustain or further improve in economic/industrialization, China needs more fresh/desalinated water

34 34 The facts (cont) Bohai is a semi-closed bay, circulation period of trapped water (heavily polluted with human and industrial waste) at order of magnitude ~ 10 years All rivers in S China run in W to E direction, but rivers in NE China run from E to W into the middle basins/lagoons/lakes Very strong sunshine (hence solar energy) and evaporation rate in the inner Mongolian deserts

35 35 The proposal

36 36 The proposal (cont) From Bohai NW coast, seawater pumped, through series of ducts, via stages of reservoirs to an altitude of 1200M at SE Inner Mongolia, forming a 2000 KM 2 salty water lake Salty water runs along ducts or impermeable channels along 42 latitude in E-W direction, flows through the Yanshan ( 阴山 ), bypassing Mazongshan Mountains ( 马鬃山 ) and finally entering Xinjiang Lop Nor ( 罗布泊 )

37 37 Principal proposers Professor HUO Youguang ( 霍有光 )( Xi an JiaoTong University) 中国地质大学教授陈昌礼 (China Univ. of Geosciences) 水利部南水北调规划办公室夏武英处长

38 38 Challengers / Opposers A number of CAS scholars/fellows

39 39 Results? Many meetings/conferences conducted Heat debate NO decision casted, up to this moment.

40 40 A debatable project of geographical scale comparable with 3 Gorges project, but very difficult to be studied analytically.

41 41 Energy Consideration 1M 3 of water, pumping up 200 M, requires 1 KWH, 1400 M therefore requires 7 KWH) Recoverable energy through hydroelectric plants??? Estimated to be around 1/4 Solar energy absorbed???

42 42 Precipitation Consideration Out of 1M 3 of water pumping up from Bohai, how much irrecoverable water evaporated??? How much precipitation (water, rain, ice, snow ) recovered and retained in China region??? How much precipitation trapped in deserts, lakes and ice caps???

43 43 Climate affection Temperature Humidity Dust and salinity content in air Storms and cyclones Heavy rainfall and possible flooding/landslides

44 44 Environmental affection Plantation Habitation (human and catties) Transportation Damage to historical heritage ( 戈壁文化, 樓蘭古國 )

45 45 Economic benefit Fresh/desalinated water Estimated price: around 8 RMB/M 3 by using semi-permeable membrane filtration desalination technique Many high-grade coal mines iron ores along the route, but cannot be operated without sufficient desalinated water Figures from wiki, 1 M 3 of water is required to manufacture 5 Kg paper 250 Kg chemical fertilizer 1122 soaps 100 pairs of plastic shoes generate 100 KWH electricity produce 150 Kg iron/steel

46 46 Economic benefit Fresh/desalinated water (cont) Average industrial revenue: 35 RMB per 1 M 3 of water Desalinated water can also be obtained through ice cubes in the water surface during winter

47 47 Economic benefit Mineral content in the concentrated seawater Potassium Bromine Iodine deuterium, tritium and deuterium oxide Gold (estimated to be around 13 ppt (parts per trillion), water can dissolve almost everything)

48 Economic benefit Others Tourism Job opportunities due to more industrialization More plantation, more catties ( 遊牧生態 ) Localize use of the rich wind/solar electricity generated in NW China (estimated > 1/3 of the China total resources). These electric supplies are too pulsating in nature, and too far away to be economically tapped into the Mid-China grid ( 華中電網 ) Pumping away more polluted water from Bohai will draw in more fisheries 48

49 49 Other concerns

50 Will the seawater further pollute the basins and lakes? Not likely, too many dried up salty lakes already. 50

51 51 Will the very concentrated seawater harmful to human kind?

52 52 Seawater in the Dead Sea is around 8.6 times concentrated as ordinary seawater The concentrated seawater and its mineral contents have miracle effects to many human diseases Very strong floatation, 1 hr. of rest by floating on the water is equivalent to 8 hrs. of sleeping rest, claimed. Promote tourism

53 53 The University of Hong Kong Will the whole project easy to be attacked by military aids? Unlikely Geographically too widely spread Except for the grand pumping station adjacent to Bohai, most of the rivers are self-running by gravity (vs that with the 3-Gorges project, the big dam(s) can always be the missile targets)

54 54 The University of Hong Kong Will the other natural disasters be of special concern? Unlikely Geographically too widely spread Low population density Earthquake uncommon at this region

55 55 Other considerations (1) The project operation can still be easily terminated by During the POC (proof-of-concern) stage do not implement too big a water reservoir Immediately stop pumping seawater at Bohai when required Of course you then lost all the infrastructure investment

56 56 Other considerations (2) If the idea is later proven to be OK, except the salt content cannot be handled Build the desalination plant next to Bohai (use the industrial wasted heat in BJ and TJ) Instead of pumping the seawater, pump the desalinated water to Xinjiang through the same mechanism

57 57 Final words This may be a grand project that affect several generations There are so many physical and human factors to this project. Whether this project is viable requires detailed quantitative studies and simulations Factors may be linear or non-linear, and they may have coupling effects

58 58 Final words (cont) Likely need big Earth Simulator to run (Japan already has such an implementation) For all knowledge, their studies eventually go quantitative, and most quantitative works require HPC ( 世事洞明皆學問 )

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