Climate Changes

On January 11, 2025, Tropical Cyclone Dikeledi struck Madagascar and the French territory of Mayotte in the Indian Ocean, leaving a trail of destruction. The storm unleashed heavy rainfall and winds exceeding 115 km/h, tragically claiming at least three lives in Madagascar.

On December 9, 2024, the Franklin Fire erupted in Malibu, California, marking another devastating wildfire event in a region highly susceptible to such disasters. Local authorities reported widespread destruction, with multiple structures lost and the forced evacuation of 6,300 residents. As the fire raged, its containment efforts faced significant challenges; two days after the outbreak, containment stood at a mere 7%. The event prompted school closures and mobilized nearly 2,000 firefighters, underscoring the scale of the emergency.

As extreme weather events increase around the world due to climate change, the need for further research into our warming planet has increased as well. For NASA, climate research involves not only conducting studies of these events, but also empowering outside researchers to do the same. The artificial intelligence (AI) efforts spearheaded by the agency offer a powerful tool to accomplish these goals.

The Paris Agreement set a vital goal to limit global warming to no more than 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. To achieve this, humanity must adhere to a strict carbon budget—the maximum amount of additional carbon dioxide (CO₂) we can release into the atmosphere. However, only around 17% of this budget remains, leaving us with approximately 10 years at current emission rates to act decisively.