Towards data-driven discovery of governing equations in geosciences

Abstract

Governing equations are foundations for modelling, predicting, and understanding the Earth system. The Earth system is undergoing rapid change, and the conventional approaches for establishing governing equations, such as empirical generalisations, are becoming increasingly challenging to deal with the complexity and diversity of the geoscience processes we study today. In this Perspective, we explore data-driven equation discovery, a novel scientific artificial intelligence pathway, for advancing geosciences. Data-driven equation discovery identifies hidden patterns from data and transforms them into interpretable equation representations, automating and accelerating equation discovery processes. It provides a practical approach for geoscientists to model and understand complex geoscience processes based on big Earth data. The final vision is to uncover new clear, describable, and quantifiable equations in various geoscience disciplines. We summarize opportunities and highlight that challenges in this field should be addressed by interdisciplinary collaborations.