Not long ago, AI used its problem-solving cap to figure out a weather mystery from the middle of the Cretaceous period. Picture a time 90 million years ago when even the South Pole was hot. This hot period has confused scientists for a while. But with AI, they found a hint: CO2 levels were high. This finding is like coming across a surprising turn in a suspense book, making us rethink our knowledge of Earth’s weather system.

For instance, researchers at Penn State University used AI and a series of general circulation model experiments to explore different variables such as geography and atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations. They were able to match ‌ mid-Cretaceous temperatures with the data from that period. Another project proposed a solution to the problem of a warm Arctic during the Cretaceous period. The researchers suggested that paleo elevations‌ were less than today and that there were much more extensive wetlands on the continents than previously assumed. These projects illustrate how AI and modeling techniques have been used to solve the mystery of the Mid-Cretaceous climate.

How AI is Traveling Back in Time to Study the Climate

 AI isn’t just about looking into the past. It’s also our magic mirror, guessing what the weather will be like in the future. Perhaps, provide data on the impact of AI in climate research, such as improvements in prediction accuracy, cost savings, etc when compared to traditional methods. As AI technology improves, we get new versions of our weather time machine, letting us go further into Earth’s weather history and better understand the things that cause climate change.

How AI is Both Helping and Hurting the Environment with Its Carbon Emissions 

While AI is a strong helper in the battle against climate change, it also affects the environment. Scientists at the University of Massachusetts Amherst discovered that the carbon footprint of training just one big language model is about 300,000 kg of carbon dioxide emissions. That’s the same as 125 round trips between New York and Beijing! AI has a lot of air travel, but it’s increasing carbon emissions instead of collecting air miles. 

However, there are ongoing efforts to make AI models more energy-efficient. For instance, adjusting cloud settings can reduce AI’s energy use. Tools like the one from Allen Institute measure AI’s electricity usage on Azure. The MIT Lincoln Laboratory Supercomputing Center (LLSC) is developing techniques to reduce energy use in data centres. Additionally, researchers are self-reporting their work’s energy consumption and emissions, promoting transparency in the field.

How AI is Saving the World from the Climate Crisis Like a Superhero

In the big fight against climate change, AI is our champion. It might not wear a cape (yet), but its ability to reveal information about our world’s past, now, and what’s to come is fantastic. And while it might not rescue us in a big movie-like ending, it’s helping us deal with the problems of climate change, one piece of information at a time.

An example of this is the project “Destination Earth” led by the European Space Agency. This project aims to create an AI-based model of the Earth to monitor and predict the interaction between climate phenomena, such as droughts, and human activities. Once in place, decision-makers around the globe would have increased access to climate insights to inform their adaptation efforts. This is just one of the many ways AI is helping us understand and combat climate change. 

How AI is Playing a Bigger Role in Climate Research Every Day