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RAIN: Reinforcement Algorithms for Improving Numerical Weather and Climate Models
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  • Pritthijit Nath,
  • Henry Moss,
  • Emily Shuckburgh,
  • Mark Webb
Pritthijit Nath
University of Cambridge

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Henry Moss
University of Cambridge
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Emily Shuckburgh
University of Cambridge
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Mark Webb
Met Office Hadley Centre
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Abstract

This study explores integrating reinforcement learning (RL) with idealised climate models to address key parameterisation challenges in climate science. Current climate models rely on complex mathematical parameterisations to represent sub-grid scale processes, which can introduce substantial uncertainties. RL offers capabilities to enhance these parameterisation schemes, including direct interaction, handling sparse or delayed feedback, continuous online learning, and long-term optimisation. We evaluate the performance of eight RL algorithms on two idealised environments: one for temperature bias correction, another for radiative-convective equilibrium (RCE) imitating real-world computational constraints. Results show different RL approaches excel in different climate scenarios with exploration algorithms performing better in bias correction, while exploitation algorithms proving more effective for RCE. These findings support the potential of RL-based parameterisation schemes to be integrated into global climate models, improving accuracy and efficiency in capturing complex climate dynamics. Overall, this work represents an important first step towards leveraging RL to enhance climate model accuracy, critical for improving climate understanding and predictions. Code accessible at https://github.com/p3jitnath/climate-rl.
22 Nov 2024Submitted to ESS Open Archive
23 Nov 2024Published in ESS Open Archive