The last winter season has witnessed unprecedented weather conditions across the state of California, driven by a series of over 30 atmospheric river storms from October through March. The impact is two-sided. On one hand, the aquatic deluge has brought much-needed rain and snow to the drought-stricken state, hence alleviating the ongoing multi-year drought in California. The laden snowpack in the Sierra Nevada mountains is also critical for the state's water supply, as it melts in the spring and summer to provide water for agriculture and cities. On the other hand, the storms have dealt a severe impact on life and property. Heavy rain and snowfall bring potential hazards such as flooding, landslides, and mudslides. 41 of California’s 58 counties have been placed under a federal emergency declaration, while 3 of them have been bucketed under a major disaster declaration. Within a 3-week period following Christmas 2022, an estimated 32 trillion gallons of water fell across California, which could fill the state’s largest reservoir, Shasta Lake, approximately 21 times.

Before we evaluate how technologies like artificial intelligence can mitigate these climate-driven challenges, let’s understand what atmospheric rivers are.

An atmospheric river is a narrow corridor of concentrated moisture in the atmosphere that can transport an amount of water vapor equivalent to the average flow of water at the mouth of a large river. Atmospheric rivers are common occurrences during winter in the western part of North America. They transport vast amounts of moisture from the tropics to the west coast. These events can bring heavy rain and snowfall and are often referred to as "Pineapple Express" storms due to their origin in the tropical Pacific.

However, heavy rain and snowfall can lead to flooding and landslides, which can cause damage to homes and infrastructure. Additionally, heavy precipitation can lead to soil erosion, which can negatively impact agriculture and other industries.

The worry is that winter storms in the western U.S. could get bigger and more intense in the next few years as greenhouse gas emissions warm the planet, a new study published by researchers at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory reported recently in Nature Climate Change. The study said that the biggest increases in storm intensity are expected with the most extreme systems. Such phenomena may become even more frequent as winter storms become larger and dump more precipitation.

To mitigate the impacts of atmospheric river storms, California has implemented a number of measures. For example, the state has built dams and levees to help control flooding and has also implemented warning systems to alert residents of potential hazards. Additionally, California has also implemented water management policies to help ensure that the state has enough water during dry periods. Despite these efforts, atmospheric rivers are still causing significant damage in California. Hence, there is a need to utilize next-generation technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) to fend off the impact of atmospheric river storms. Here are several ways in which AI can be used to mitigate the impact of atmospheric rivers in California: 

1. Predictive modeling: AI algorithms can be used to analyze historical data and predict the likelihood and severity of an atmospheric river event. This can allow officials and residents to prepare for potential flooding, landslides, and other hazards. 

2. Early warning systems: AI can be used to monitor real-time weather data and provide early warnings of an incoming atmospheric river event. This can help people to evacuate or take other protective measures. 

3. Flood forecasting: AI can be used to analyze real-time data from weather stations, radar, and other sources to predict the likelihood of flooding in specific areas. This information can be used to target evacuation efforts and other emergency response measures. 

4. Damage assessment: After an atmospheric river event, AI algorithms can be used to analyze satellite imagery and other data to assess the extent of damage to buildings, infrastructure, and other assets. This can help prioritize repairs and rebuilding efforts. 

5. Drought Management: AI can also be used to predict future droughts, which can help water managers to better plan for future drought conditions. 

In conclusion, atmospheric rivers are powerful weather systems that bring a significant amount of moisture to California, resulting in heavy rain and snowfall. These weather systems can cause flooding and landslides but can be mitigated through smart water management, warning systems, and other measures. Overall, AI can be used effectively to provide critical information and insights that can help to mitigate the impacts of atmospheric rivers and other weather events in California.

EKTA DANG, PHD, is CEO and Founder at U First Capital. Dr. Ekta Dang has been a successful executive, speaker, and writer in Silicon Valley for two decades. She is currently Founder and CEO of U First Capital which provides venture capital as a service to mid-size and large corporations. Ekta has held positions in venture capital and operations at Intel. She is a startup enthusiast and mentor at Alchemist Accelerator, Stanford, UC Berkeley, Google Launchpad, etc. She has been a member of the US Government's Technology Policy Advisory Committee. Ekta has a Ph.D. in Physics and is a graduate of UC Berkeley Haas School's Venture Capital program. She has published several research papers in IEEE and other reputed international journals. Visit Dr. Dang’s LinkedIn and U First Capital’s website.