Title: DeepESDL – Earth System Data Lab

Project duration: 2022 – 2025

Research Area: Applied ML, Big Data ML, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Aims

AI is becoming increasingly important in Earth observations as most parts of the Earth system are continuously monitored by sensors and AI is able to cope with both the volume of data and the heterogeneous data characteristics. For instance, satellites monitor the atmosphere, land, and ocean with unprecedented accuracy. In course of DeepESDL, the Earth System Data Lab (ESDL) capabilities have been extended to support the application of machine learning (ML) methods on Earth System Data Cubes (ESDC).

We provide three Python-based best practice Jupyter Notebooks based on a generic use case to showcase the implementation of state-of-the-art machine learning libraries on ESDCs in the DeepESDL Hub environment. Each Jupyter Notebook involves a self-contained workflow, markdown cells, comments and plots for user-friendly application and guidance and is based on one of the three well established open source ML libraries respectively:

1. scikit-learn
   For classical machine learning such as support vector machines, decision trees, regressions or clustering, scikit-learn provides a broad set of features that fulfils many basic requirements.
2. PyTorch
   For larger neural networks and support for Deep Learning additional ML toolchains are necessary, for example the python-based ML stack PyTorch. With PyTorch, experienced users are supported. It provides low-level API and allows for flexibility to develop and customize deep learning models. It allows for GPU computation and supports transfer learning, domain adaptation, or diverse methods for fine tuning of models.
3. TensorFlow/Keras
   Keras provides a high-level API that can be run on the popular execution backend TensorFlow. Due to its simplicity, it fits well to the requirements of those Earth system scientist that do not require to newly develop neuronal network architectures. As PyTorch, TensorFlow is python-based, allows for GPU computation and it supports Deep Learning applications including transfer learning or domain adaptation.

Model tracking is realized through the usage of TensorBoard and mlflow. These tools offer science teams an easy-to-use platform allowing to run and scale their Machine Learning workloads in a collaborative environment supporting versioning and sharing of parameters, models, artefacts, results, etc. within the team and potentially external users. Mlflow supports the MLOps pipelines particularly to log and evaluate experiment runs as well as to store models in a registry​. Persistent mlflow deployments are made available on team level to allow each team member to compare their experiments with those of the other team members and to use the trained models of others. TensorBoard as another collaborative tool in this MLOPs space is currently evaluated by the science teams and available as part of the TensorFlow conda kernel to individual users within their JupyterLab session.

Technologies

• xarray, zarr

Team

• ESA – The European Space Agency
• RSC4Earth (Prof. Dr. Miguel Mahecha, David Monterro)
• Brockmann Consult GmbH
• EOX

Supervisor

• Dr. Josefine Umlauft (ScaDS.AI Dresden/Leipzig)

Publications

• Brandt, G., Balfanz, A., Fomferra, N., Morbagal Harish, T., Mahecha, M., Kraemer, G., Montero, D., Meißl, S., Achtsnit, S., Umlauft, J., Neumann, A., Horton, A., Ewart, M., Gans, F., and Anghelea, A.: DeepESDL – an open platform for research and collaboration in Earth Sciences, EGU General Assembly 2023, Vienna, Austria, 23–28 Apr 2023, EGU23-15225, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu23-15225, 2023.