Sebastian Val has been using and supporting Linux for over 25 years and he can frequently be found tinkering with and occasionally releasing open source Linux software. Sebastian has extensive experience in algorithm development, computer security, software design and implementation, database administration, routing and network protocols, and containerization and virtualization stacks. He holds a Masters degree in Data Science from University of Southern California (USC), and is currently at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in the Science Data System Algorithm Development and Integration group.

Presentations

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Weather Forecasting at Home

Ever been curious how those weather forecasts you get on your phone and on the news are created? Welcome to the wonderful world of chemical transport models (CTMs), the largely open source software behind modern weather and air-quality prediction. Modeling agencies and numerous state and local environmental offices rely on systems like the Weather Research and Forecasting model with Chemistry (WRF-Chem) and the Unified Forecast System (UFS) to simulate how gases, particles, and meteorological conditions evolve in the atmosphere. Together, these models allow weather agencies, and now you, to translate complex atmospheric science into the clear, timely information that allows us to anticipate rain, model winds, or predict pollution events using our trusty Linux machines. Come learn how WRF-Chem works: how to customize it to run over your area, the kinds of openly available inputs it uses to establish initial and boundary conditions, and examples of how the generated predictions compare to real-world outcomes.

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