The researchers took satellite measurements of land surface
    temperatures over the past 20 years and cross-referenced
    them against the geographical coordinates of more than 
    8400 AI data centres. 

    Recognising that surface temperature could be affected by other
    factors, the researchers chose to focus their investigation on
    data centres located away from densely populated areas.

    They discovered that land surface temperatures increased
    by an average of 2°C (3.6°F) in the months after an AI data
    centre started operations. In the most extreme cases, the
    increase in temperature was 9.1°C (16.4°F).

    The effect wasn’t limited to the immediate surroundings
    of the data centres: the team found increased temperatures
    up to 10 kilometres away. Seven kilometres away, there was
    only a 30 per cent reduction in the intensity.