google From research to climate resilience (opens in new tab)
Google Research is leveraging advanced artificial intelligence to transform climate science from theoretical exploration into scalable, real-world resilience tools. By developing sophisticated models for floods, cyclones, and hyper-local weather, the initiative provides critical lead times that empower communities to protect lives and livelihoods against increasingly frequent environmental threats. This transition from "impossible" research to global implementation highlights AI's capacity to bridge data gaps in the world's most vulnerable regions. ## AI-Powered Global Flood Forecasting * Google developed a global hydrological AI model, recently published in *Nature*, which enables riverine flood forecasts up to seven days in advance. * The system utilizes "virtual gauges" to analyze historical data and provide predictions in regions where physical water-monitoring infrastructure is non-existent. * The Flood Hub platform now covers over 100 countries and 700 million people, providing an expert data layer and API access for local governments and researchers. ## Cyclone Tracking and Intensity Prediction * Collaborative research between Google DeepMind and Google Research has produced models that predict storm existence, track, intensity, and size up to 15 days in advance. * The AI generates up to 50 different possible scenarios for each storm, providing a more nuanced view of potential impact than traditional physics-based supercomputer simulations. * Through the new Weather Lab website, these experimental models are being shared with the US National Hurricane Center to assist in forecasting during the Atlantic hurricane season. ## Global Nowcasting with MetNet-3 * The MetNet-3 state-of-the-art neural weather model provides hyper-local precipitation forecasts with a 5km resolution, updated every 15 minutes. * By utilizing satellite observations instead of traditional ground-based radar, the system delivers reliable weather data to regions like Africa that lack extensive physical infrastructure. * These 12-hour "nowcasting" windows are integrated directly into Google Search, specifically helping agricultural communities react to changing conditions to improve crop yields and reduce waste. These advancements demonstrate that the "art of the possible" is rapidly expanding, offering a future where data-scarce regions can access the same life-saving predictive capabilities as developed nations through global partnerships and satellite-based modeling.