Recently we have built a Linux-based Beowulf-type cluster (Sierra cluster) for mesoscale atmospheric modeling by the Mesoscale Dynamics and Modeling group at DRI, whose research projects focus on airflow dynamics and quantitative precipitation forecasting in complex terrain. The full cluster configuration consists of 32 dual-processor nodes with 2 GB of memory per node connected together with a fast Myrinet interconnect.

Two non-hydrostatic mesoscale models, the NCAR/PSU MM5 and NRL's COAMPS used by our group, have been ported and run on the cluster. In this poster, we will present results of the scaling comparison of these two models on the Sierra cluster.