Thanks to funding of more than 315 million euros, the European Union took a major step forward in Earth modeling on Monday. She activated the initial system of the initiative called “DestinE”.
Two years ago now, and in partnership with various entities, such as the European Space Agency (ESA), Brussels launched “Destination Earth” (DestinE), described as a flagship initiative “ aiming to develop a highly accurate digital model of the Earth on a global scale “. This digital twin should make it possible to monitor, simulate and predict the links between human activities and natural phenomena, with the aim of combating the destructive effects of climate change. This Monday, June 10, 2024, a new step was taken by the European Commission, which activated the initial DestinE system.
Highly accurate digital twins of Earth by 2030
Margrethe Vestager, the Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, was very proud this Monday to participate in the activation, along with the Finnish Minister of Employment Arto Satonen, of Destination Earth. The course is well and truly set on the development of a very precise digital twin of the Earth.
European high-performance computers (EuroHPC) have finally been tasked with simulating the effects of extreme weather phenomena and, more generally, climate change. Among the machines requested, we find the LUMI supercomputer, installed in Kajaani… in Finland, you guessed it.
Using EuroHPC computers and artificial intelligence, the DestinE system has at its disposal modeling capabilities deemed “ unprecedented » by Brussels. Now operational in its first version, it must evolve to provide additional services by 2027. It will notably be equipped with developments in AI and will allow synergies with additional digital twins. By 2030, DestinE should in theory be able to achieve a complete digital republic of our Earth.
Generating crucial data for the fight against climate change
The first version of the central service platform, the data lake and the first digital twins are therefore operational. In detail and among the main characteristics of the initial system, the central service platform must allow its users to access its services, tools and applications, which will help in decision-making. They will be delivered in a secure Cloud and strengthened through the cooperation of EU Member States.
Obviously, we cannot miss the two DestinE digital twins: one of them will be dedicated to adaptation to climate change; the other, extreme, will be influenced by weather conditions. Both will offer high resolution data.
The Copernicus Earth observation program will also benefit from DestinE data. The data lake will bring together the data funds of Copernicus but also those of ESA, EUMETSAT (European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites) and ECMWF (European Center for Weather Forecasts). It will host user data, which will be shared with the community of users, often experts, of DestinE. All in the service of a world that may one day be greener.
Source : European Commission
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