India’s Extreme Weather and AI’s Role
India faces intense heatwaves and bursts of rainfall every year.
To better predict and respond, the country is turning to artificial intelligence (AI) for weather forecasting and early warnings.
Traditional weather models rely on complex physics-based calculations, while AI uses data-driven methods to identify patterns and make predictions.
Mission Mausam and AI Advancements
In 2024, India launched "Mission Mausam" with ₹2,000 crore to improve weather forecasting using AI.
The Ministry of Earth Sciences is setting up a dedicated AI and machine learning center to develop better forecasting models.
AI is being used to improve rainfall predictions and create high-resolution meteorological datasets.
Progress in AI Weather Forecasting
Researchers have developed machine learning models to predict monsoon rainfall more accurately than traditional methods.
These models use historical climate data and account for global patterns like El Niño and the Indian Ocean Dipole.
The models can predict rainfall months in advance, offering significant improvements over current methods.
Challenges in AI Weather Forecasting
AI models require large, high-quality datasets, which are often inconsistent or error-prone.
A shortage of professionals with expertise in both AI and climate science hampers progress.
AI models can be hard to interpret, which raises concerns about their reliability and transparency.
Future Outlook for AI in Weather Forecasting
AI is seen as essential for predicting extreme weather events like heatwaves and cyclones.
The challenge remains in improving data collection, infrastructure, and training AI models with high-quality, diverse data.
Active collaboration between AI experts and climate scientists is crucial to develop effective weather forecasting models for India’s unique challenges.
COMMENTS