ALMA WSU: Data Processing Challenges and Opportunities

The ALMA Wideband Sensitivity Upgrade (WSU) will increase the maximum number of channels ALMA is capable of producing from 15,000 to 1.2 million. This increase in the aggregate number of channels presents new challenges for processing ALMA data. In this talk, I will present estimates of the predicted distribution of WSU data properties -- including data rates, visibility data volumes, and product sizes -- based on extrapolations of current ALMA use patterns and compare them to the data properties ALMA is capable of producing today. I will also outline the current challenges with ALMA data processing and discuss ways to address these challenges in the WSU era