India Explores Artificial Intelligence to Improve Weather Forecasting

India is conducting trials of artificial intelligence (AI) to develop climate models aimed at enhancing weather forecasting capabilities, especially in the face of increasing incidents of torrential rains, floods, and droughts across the country, as revealed by a senior weather official.

The escalating impacts of global warming have intensified the clash of weather systems in India, leading to more frequent and severe weather events. The independent Centre for Science and Environment estimates that these events have resulted in nearly 3,000 casualties this year alone.

Weather agencies worldwide are turning their attention to AI, which offers cost savings and improved processing speed. The UK's Met Office even suggests that AI could "revolutionize" weather forecasting, with recent Google-funded models demonstrating superior performance compared to conventional methods.

Accurate weather predictions hold significant importance for India, a country with a population of 1.4 billion, including many impoverished citizens. Additionally, India is the world's second-largest producer of rice, wheat, and sugar.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) traditionally relies on mathematical models processed by supercomputers for weather forecasts. Integrating AI with an expanded observation network has the potential to generate higher-quality forecast data at a lower cost.

K.S. Hosalikar, head of climate research and services at IMD, stated that the AI-based climate models and advisories currently under development are expected to enhance forecasting capabilities.

The IMD has already utilized AI to issue public alerts for heatwaves and diseases like malaria. Plans include expanding weather observatories to provide data down to the village level, potentially offering higher-resolution data for forecasts.

The government's recent announcement expresses its intent to incorporate AI into traditional models for weather and climate forecasts. To support this initiative, a center has been established to conduct workshops and conferences.

Saurabh Rathore, an assistant professor at the Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi, highlighted the cost-effectiveness of AI models, stating, "An AI model doesn't require the high cost involved in running a supercomputer - you can even run it out of a good-quality desktop."

Experts emphasize the need for better data to maximize the benefits of AI. Parthasarathi Mukhopadhyay, a climate scientist at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, emphasized, "Without having high-resolution data in space and time, no AI model for location-specific magnification of existing model forecasts is feasible."