India Implements AI for Improved Weather Forecasting to Tackle Increasing Floods and Droughts
The Indian government is taking proactive measures to enhance weather forecasting in the country by utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) to build climate models. The deployment of AI in weather forecasting is crucial as it not only reduces costs but also improves the speed and accuracy of predictions. Given India’s status as an agrarian economy and the second-largest producer of rice, wheat, and sugar, accurate weather predictions are vital. With the rise in torrential rains, floods, and droughts, the government aims to improve weather forecasting capabilities to mitigate these challenges.
Recent years have witnessed more intense clashes of weather systems in India due to global warming. The independent Centre for Science and Environment has reported that the surge in extreme weather events this year has resulted in the loss of nearly 3,000 lives.
Recognizing the significance of AI in weather forecasting, weather agencies worldwide are driving efforts towards its adoption. Britain’s Met Office, with support from Google, developed a model funded by AI that has surpassed older methods, paving the way for AI to potentially revolutionize weather forecasting.
India, with a population of 1.4 billion, including a substantial impoverished segment, relies heavily on accurate weather forecasting. As the world’s second-largest producer of rice, wheat, and sugar, precise weather predictions are critical to sustaining India’s agrarian economy.
At present, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) provides forecasts based on mathematical models powered by supercomputers. By incorporating AI into these models and leveraging an expanded observation network, higher-quality forecast data can be generated at a lower cost.
K.S. Hosalikar, head of climate research and services at IMD, stated that the department expects the AI-based climate models and advisories it is developing to significantly enhance forecasts. The IMD has already utilized AI to generate public alerts related to heatwaves and diseases like malaria. Additionally, the IMD plans to increase the number of weather observatories to gather data at a grassroots level, thereby expanding the potential for higher-resolution data in forecasts.
The Indian government also aims to integrate AI into traditional weather and climate forecast models. To explore this idea further, a dedicated center has been established, conducting workshops and conferences to test the feasibility of the integration.
Saurabh Rathore, an assistant professor at the Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi, highlighted the advantages of AI, noting that AI models can be run on standard desktop computers. This eliminates the need for expensive supercomputers, making AI models more accessible.
However, experts emphasize that high-resolution data is essential for optimizing the benefits of AI in weather forecasting. Parthasarathi Mukhopadhyay, a climate scientist at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, asserted that without robust high-resolution data, AI models cannot effectively magnify existing forecasts for specific locations.
India’s endeavor to improve weather forecasting through the utilization of AI demonstrates a commitment to addressing the escalating challenges posed by floods, droughts, and extreme weather events. By harnessing the power of AI, India aims to enhance its prediction capabilities, minimize the impact of these disasters, and protect the livelihoods of its citizens.
In conclusion, the Indian government’s adoption of AI to bolster weather forecasting capabilities marks a significant step towards addressing the increasing frequency and intensity of floods, droughts, and extreme weather events. With the potential to reduce costs while simultaneously improving the speed and accuracy of predictions, AI offers a promising solution to mitigate these challenges. By leveraging AI models and expanding the observation network, India aims to provide the most accurate and timely weather forecasts to sustain its agrarian economy and safeguard the well-being of its people.
