AI and climate change: how artificial intelligence is studying climate

As far as the relationship between AI and climate is concerned, a recent study has shown how artificial intelligence can help us to better understand climate change. This was the conclusion reached by experts at the University of Turin, the University of Roma Tre and the Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research (National Research Council of Italy), where they focused on neural networks to decipher the connection between:

• human – natural influences;
• and temperature changes.

The difference compared to past research is that this time, researchers used networks of artificial neurones which learn from observed data, rather than global climate models. All this, as well as confirming the effects of human – natural influences on climate, has also enabled researchers to understand what an enormous impact human actions have had on the climate, especially since the Second World War.

This method really is revolutionary in so far as people can approach it like one would approach a child, who must learn everything from scratch:  the artificial brain developed by researchers at the National Research Council actually observes and analyses the data which surround it, in order to identify the relationship between man and nature and investigate the causes of climate change.

According to the study, neural networks have ascertained the fact that the rise in global temperatures over the last half century is linked to deforestation and the use of fossil fuels above all: primary factors which have contributed to increases in levels of greenhouse gases.

From the results obtained, it would also seem that the solar influence has not contributed at all to the increase in temperatures registered in the last few decades, although it certainly influenced them during the period between 1910 and 1945. Between 1945 and 1975 on the other hand, a temporary break in temperature increase was generated by:

• climate conditions especially in the Atlantic Ocean;
• and by anthropic emissions of particles including sulphur.

As experts at the Institute of Atmospheric Pollution point out, the fact that human actions have a considerable effect on climate change is not necessarily a bad thing. This merely indicates that man has a chance to reverse this trend, by behaving in such a way as to reduce his impact on the environment.

If the relationship between AI and climate is to be really productive as far as knowledge is concerned, it is however necessary to possess large quantities of data. This data is only manageable with the use of learning machines, which provide greater competence and awareness on climate change and global warming.

A good example is the MET Office, the British meteorological office which is equipped with a database made up of 45 petabytes of data which can only be deciphered thanks to specially developed machines. The machines must in any case be supported by human intelligence to explain the weather patterns and create solutions designed to safeguard the wellbeing of the Planet.

When all is said and done, ours is a Planet in need of all possible care and attention. It now desperately requires solutions which will help it to get better and cleanse itself from all those excesses to which the human race has blindly subjected it, particularly over the last century.

This is our brief summary on the relationship between AI and climate:  a relationship to be developed and explored long-term, not only to identify the causes of and solutions to climate change, but also to improve the environment, thereby providing a better life for current and future generations.

In order to succeed in all this, further investment, technological progress and of course, steely determination on man’s part will be required: fundamental elements which, if used to their best advantage, could significantly curb current problems.

Translated by Joanne Beckwith