China releases LangYa 2.0 AI model for full-blown marine phenomenon forecasting

A year after issuing its first ocean forecasting AI system, Chinese scientists on Saturday rolled out LangYa 2.0, a major upgrade that moves beyond basic sea variables to predict complex marine phenomena including typhoons, extreme rainfall and storm surges.

The new model was unveiled at the ongoing Fourth China Digital Earth Conference in Qingdao, a coastal city of east China's Shandong Province.

Developed by the Institute of Oceanology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (IOCAS), LangYa 2.0 marks a leap from global ocean state forecasting to intelligent prediction of complex marine phenomena, making ocean forecasts perceptible, actionable, and decision-ready, according to Wang Fan, president of IOCAS.

It will provide intelligent support for marine disaster prevention, shipping safety, polar navigation, and climate response, he added.

The upgraded system now predicts six key marine phenomena -- typhoons, extreme rainfall, storm surges, internal solitary waves, mesoscale eddies, and sea ice.

It does so via six specialized vertical sub-models, each trained on unique datasets and physical mechanisms. Together, they form what the research team calls "a diagnostic AI," which delivers direct, actionable forecasts.

Take typhoons for example. The typhoon module fuses atmospheric and oceanic fields, satellite cloud imagery and historical typhoon tracks. It is specifically designed to handle two notoriously hard-to-predict behaviors: rapid intensification and sudden turning. For coastal communities, those few hours of extra warning can mean the difference between evacuation and disaster.

For offshore engineering, LangYa 2.0 can identify internal solitary waves -- the powerful, hidden currents that can damage oil platforms.

It forecasts their evolution over the following 30 days and allows users to query speed, amplitude and other key parameters for the coming week, according to the research team.

Even before its official release, version 2.0 has begun to prove its worth.

Independently validated by the Sea Ice Prediction Network, an international collaboration of scientists and research institutions dedicated to improving seasonal forecasts of Arctic sea ice, LangYa 2.0 ranked first among multiple global models in the 2025 seasonal forecast for September Arctic sea ice extent, which refers to the area of ocean covered by ice.

It delivers monthly-scale predictions at three-kilometer resolution, which is critical for Arctic shipping routes, climate research and polar navigation safety, the team noted.

China releases LangYa 2.0 AI model for full-blown marine phenomenon forecasting

A large number of international guests have been drawn to Ninghai County in east China's Zhejiang Province, immersing themselves in the culture of its villages and enjoying warm welcomes from local people eager to share their traditional practices.

Recently, a traditional long-table banquet was held in the county's Qiantong Ancient Town, an exceptionally well-preserved town built during the Song Dynasty (960–1279).

Given the rising popularity of rural tourism in China, it was no surprise that the 300 tickets for the event sold out within a few minutes. However, local organizers had not expected the event to bring so many guests from overseas to the 200-meter-long table.

"I especially like the tall (long) table, it's actually a new experience for me," said an international visitor.

"The atmosphere here is lively and I really like it. The dishes arrived still hot, crispy and delicious," said another overseas guest.

Inspired by the stories of Xu Xiake, an explorer and travel writer from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), more than 100 overseas students also visited old villages in the county, where they learned traditional crafting techniques like paper cutting.

"I can experience traditional culture and I also like that in this village. There are some old traditional things," said an overseas student.

"This place is so beautiful, with many delicious foods," another student said.

The students also learned to make a kind of traditional dessert that symbolizes good wishes for longevity.

"It's my first time to see it. It's very interesting. I want to learn new things," said one of the students.

"I feel really amazed there, really happy. I was really enjoying this experience to do it," said another.

Local people were more than willing to share these ancient practices with young people from around the world.

"Through hands-on experience, our foreign friends can more easily understand our traditional culture. Our communication like this is more sincere and unforgettable," said Liang Lanlan, an intangible cultural heritage inheritor.

Traditional culture in east China county draws international guests