The PALM Software

The development of the PALM software has been originally committed by the MERCATOR project to provide a generalized coupler which ensures the correct link and synchronization of the software components of the data assimilation suite and which handles the algebra of the problem.

The PALM coupler has proven to be a exible and powerful parallel dynamic coupler. Its application domain extend far beyond data assimilation, therefore the users' community is constantly increasing and the software is ceaselessly evolving to deal with the new functional requirements and the new hardware technologies.
The development activity has been organized in three main phases:

the first one was a feasibility study carried over the years 1996 to 1998
the second one was the development of the functional prototype of PALM, carried over the years 1999 to 2001 and which lead to the release of the largely used and tested PALM RESEARCH software
the third one is the ongoing development of the nal version of PALM, denoted by PALM MP

In parallel with the third phase of development, the PALM team has granted the maintenance of the previously released versions and has provided an extensive users' support, including training sessions both on the use of the coupler itself and on its application to parallel coupling and data assimilation suites.

As a data assimilation framework, the PALM coupler is used for the operational suite in the MERCATOR ocean forecasting system, and for research purposes by the \Research and development" teams selected by the GMMC (Groupe Mission MERCATOR CORIOLIS). It is also used in the french project ADOMOCA atmospheric chemistry data assimilation and in ADONIS project (EDF) for data assimilation methods in neutronic simulation.

As a model coupler, PALM has started to be used at CERFACS by the CFD TEAM in coupled uid structure applications based on the ELSA software. Having proved its efficiency, it is now spreading in the scienti c and engineering community. Among its users, we list SNECMA (Vernon and Villaroche), ONERA, CESBIO, CNRM, IMAG, INRIA (Avignon, Rennes, Grignon), TOTAL, BRGM, CNES, ECP, SA, LA, and several other international institutions.

The development of the nal MPMD version of PALM has started in 2002.A rst running version is available since april 2003. The current version is PALM MP 2 5 1 and it implements most of the originally committed functions.

The year 2009 will be dedicated to the implementation of new functions and features, mainly related to operational applications and to increasingly complex coupling con gurations. Along with the complexi cation of the code, its documentation is constantly updated and the users' support is adapted to growth of the users' community.

http://www.cerfacs.fr/globc/PALM_WEB/index.html

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