The Indian government explores AI integration into climate modeling for precise severe weather predictions. K.S. Hosalikar of the India Meteorological Department anticipates improved forecasting for floods and droughts, emphasizing AI’s potential to enhance data quality and reduce costs.
India is venturing into the realm of artificial intelligence (AI) for climate modeling, aiming to revolutionize severe weather forecasting. K.S. Hosalikar, Head of Climate Research at the India Meteorological Department (IMD), envisions AI-driven models enhancing predictions, particularly for critical conditions like floods and droughts. The IMD, currently relying on mathematical models and supercomputers, anticipates that AI integration could yield more cost-effective and higher-quality weather data.
Already employing AI for public alerts on extreme weather events and disease outbreaks, Hosalikar outlines plans to expand weather observatories to the village level for enhanced resolution in forecasting data. The government has established a dedicated center to test AI’s incorporation into traditional forecasting, signaling a shift towards advanced technologies.
Given India’s diverse weather patterns and the impact on its 1.4 billion inhabitants, accurate forecasting becomes paramount. The country, a major global agricultural player, faces increasing challenges from climate-related events affecting crops like rice, wheat, and sugar.
At the forefront of combating climate change, India joins the global conversation sparked by initiatives such as Google’s DeepMind proposing the “Understand, Optimize, Accelerate” framework. The intersection of AI and weather forecasting also sees innovative approaches, including blockchain and crypto, with startups like WeatherXM deploying decentralized weather stations for localized data collection.