On the afternoon of May 23, the Nanjing-Helsinki Institute Lecture Series at Nanjing-Helsinki Institute in Atmospheric and Earth System Sciences, Nanjing University (NJU Nanjing-Helsinki Institute) officially commenced on Suzhou campus, with a branch venue set up at the Xianlin campus simultaneously. The inaugural lecture focused on frontier topics in "Atmospheric and Earth System Sciences," featuring keynote reports by foreign academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Chen Deliang, and American climate scientist Dai Aiguo. The event was hosted by Ding Aijun, Assistant President of  NJU and Dean of Nanjing-Helsinki Institute. Fu Congbin, Academician of the CAS attended online.

Academician Chen Deliang discussed the evolution of Earth System Sciences and AI modeling, systematically outlining the development of the discipline: from the four major international programs WCRP, IGBP, IHDP, DIVERSITAS to the integration process of "Future Earth," emphasizing the paradigm shift from natural system research to comprehensive "human-earth system" studies. He highlighted that current scientific challenges extend beyond traditional climate mechanism research, requiring a focus on the feedback mechanisms of non-material factors such as institutions, culture, and cognition on climate systems. Chen Deliang particularly noted that "cultural factors may become key variables in next-generation Earth system models." Regarding the impact of artificial intelligence on atmospheric science, he analyzed dialectically: "AI technology can significantly enhance simulation capabilities, but the core remains in understanding mechanisms—algorithms cannot replace scientific cognition."

Based on multi-source observational data and CMIP model simulations, Professor Dai Aiguo systematically explained three major characteristic changes in global precipitation patterns under the backdrop of climate warming: first, intensity polarization, with a significant increase in the frequency of heavy precipitation events and a decrease in moderate and light rain events; second, regional differentiation, with increased drought in subtropical regions and intensified wetting in high latitudes; third, sea-land differences, with land warming faster than oceans and ocean surface evaporation stronger than on land. Prof. Dai Aiguo provided two explanatory mechanisms for changes in precipitation frequency. The increase in water vapor due to global warming leads to a rapid rise in the occurrence of heavy precipitation. The reduction in moderate and light rain frequency is caused by the uneven growth in water vapor consumption and replenishment in the atmosphere under global warming. Additionally, the decrease in relative humidity in the atmosphere also inhibits the occurrence of moderate and light rain.

The lecture was live-streamed simultaneously through the Nanjing campus venue, with faculty and students attentively listening and actively participating in interactive exchanges. The event focused on frontier topics in global climate change and Earth system sciences. The branch venue expanded academic outreach and  embodied the concept of cross-campus linkage and resource sharing of the Nanjing-Helsinki Institute Lecture Series.