# Learning to generate physical ocean states: Towards hybrid climate modeling

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2502.02499 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2502.02499/

## Key facts

- Cited by 1 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Builds on 4 of its 6 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 4 Feb 2025.

## Builds on (most cited first, 4 of 4)

- [Denoising Diffusion Probabilistic Models](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2006.11239/) (2020)
- [U-Net: Convolutional Networks for Biomedical Image Segmentation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1505.04597/) (2015)
- [Neural General Circulation Models for Weather and Climate](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2311.07222/) (2023)
- [From Zero to Turbulence: Generative Modeling for 3D Flow Simulation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2306.01776/) (2023)

## Built on by (most cited first, 1 of 1)

- [Strictly Constrained Generative Modeling via Split Augmented Langevin Sampling](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2505.18017/) (2025)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Ocean General Circulation Models require extensive computational resources to reach equilibrium states, while deep learning emulators, despite offering fast predictions, lack the physical interpretability and long-term stability necessary for climate scientists to understand climate sensitivity (to greenhouse gas emissions) and mechanisms of abrupt % variability such as tipping points. We propose to take the best from both worlds by leveraging deep generative models to produce physically consistent oceanic states that can serve as initial conditions for climate projections. We assess the viability of this hybrid approach through both physical metrics and numerical experiments, and highlight the benefits of enforcing physical constraints during generation. Although we train here on ocean variables from idealized numerical simulations, we claim that this hybrid approach, combining the computational efficiency of deep learning with the physical accuracy of numerical models, can effectively reduce the computational burden of running climate models to equilibrium, and reduce uncertainties in climate projections by minimizing drifts in baseline simulations.