Allocations for computing resources

To use the NCAR supercomputers and Mass Storage System, users must apply for time on these computing resources. Applications are reviewed and time is allocated according to the needs of the projects and the availability of resources.

NCAR operates two separate computing facilities:

Community Computing resources are used by university scientists and NCAR researchers to investigate questions in atmospheric science, geophysics and solar physics. The purpose is twofold — to provide computing support for NCAR research and to extend the computing resources for university scientists so they can pursue investigations beyond the scope of university computing centers.

The Climate Simulation Laboratory (CSL) at NCAR is a dedicated climate model computing facility supporting the multiagency Climate Change Science Program. The purpose of the CSL is to provide high performance computing and data storage systems to support large-scale, long-running simulations of the earth's climate system, including appropriate model components, that need to be completed in a short calendar period. CSL allocations are made approximately every 18 months.

Types of allocations
Researchers at U.S. universities may apply for one of the following types of allocations: data-access only, small computing, large computing, graduate student, post-doc, new faculty or classroom grant. Data-access-only allocations are also available to non-profit research institutions in the U.S. Small and large computing accounts require an active NSF award.

Allocations are granted in General Accounting Units (GAUs), and tools are supplied for tracking your resource usage.