Interdisciplinary Science Session: Can Machine Learning and Data-driven Science Lead to Breakthroughs in Earth System Modeling and Analysis?; Aspen, Colorado; June 7-11, 2021

近年来，机器学习(ML)和其他数据科学技术在从自动驾驶汽车到定向广告再到医疗诊断的应用中出现了爆炸性增长。与此同时，随着来自观测系统和计算机模型的数据量几乎呈指数级增长，气候和地球系统科学的数据密集度越来越高。因此，人们对如何将数据科学的工具应用于气候和地球系统科学问题非常感兴趣。这次研讨会聚集了一群来自气候、地球系统科学、统计学、数据科学和相关学科的研究人员，寻求将数据科学工具应用于气候和地球系统科学的新的和富有成效的方法。需要考虑的一个应用是使用ML作为在气候和地球系统模型中表示小规模过程的一种手段。另一种是使用ML和类似的技术来分析大量数据。需要考虑的特别挑战包括将物理约束纳入ML算法，以及基于ML的分析结果可以在多大程度上以物理上有意义的方式解释。讲习班试图将新的和强大的工具引入气候和地球系统科学，从而产生了更广泛的影响。数据科学工具有可能提高研究成果的社会价值，例如，通过允许科学家为面临极端天气、气候变化和其他地球系统现象构成的威胁的规划者和利益攸关方提供更好的指导。将通过主旨讲座和网上可访问的讲习班介绍视频进行公众宣传，并将在会议结束后发表一份观点文件。研讨会计划在2021年6月7日的那一周举行。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Recent years have seen an explosion in the use of machine learning (ML) and other data science techniques in applications from self-driving cars to targeted advertising to medical diagnosis. Meanwhile climate and earth system science have become increasingly data intensive, as the volume of data from observing systems and computer models has increased almost exponentially. There is thus considerable interest in finding ways to apply the tools of data science to the problems of climate and earth system science.This workshop brings together a group of researchers from the fields of climate, earth system science, statistics, data science, and related disciplines to seek novel and productive ways to apply data science tools to climate and earth system science. One application to be considered is the use of ML as a means of representing small-scale processes in climate and earth system models. Another is the use of ML and similar techniques for the analysis of large volumes of data. Particular challenges to be considered include the incorporation of physical constraints into ML algorithms and the extent to which results of ML-based analysis can be interpreted in physically meaningful ways.The workshop has broader impacts through its attempt to introduce new and powerful tools into climate and earth system science. Data science tools have the potential to enhance the societal value of research results, for example by allowing scientists to provide better guidance to planners and stakeholders facing threats posed by extreme weather, climate change, and other earth system phenomena. Public outreach will be performed through a keynote lecture and web-accessible videos of workshop presentations, and a perspective paper will be published as a result of the meeting. The workshop is planned for the week of 7 June 2021.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.