- New research from the University of Cambridge reveals that the rapid expansion of AI data centers is creating "data heat islands" that significantly warm surrounding environments.
- The study indicates these facilities can increase local land surface temperatures by an average of 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit (2C), with some areas experiencing rises of up to 16.4 degrees Fahrenheit (9.1C), affecting more than 340 million people globally.
- Researchers analysed 20 years of NASA satellite data, mapping it against over 6,000 data centres to isolate the warming effect caused by physical heat released from server cooling and computation.
- Significant temperature increases were detected up to 6.2 miles from sites, with consistent warming trends observed in regions like Spain's Aragón, Mexico's Bajío, and Brazil's Ceará and Piauí.
- Experts warn of a lack of oversight as data centres are projected to become one of the most power-hungry sectors, with researchers suggesting solutions such as "carbon-aware" software and passive cooling technologies.
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