Artificial intelligence (AI) is to be used to help improve weather forecasting and the accuracy of predictions for extreme and multi-hazard weather events.
A new centre launched at University College Dublin (UCD) this Friday following a €5m investment from Met Éireann will harness AI to transform weather forecasting.
The first of its kind in Ireland, the AIMSIR (AI for Meteorological Services, Innovation and Research) Centre will bring together more than 60 UCD researchers across disciplines including mathematics, statistics, computer science, physics, engineering and climatology, who will focus on developing AI-driven forecasting tools.
They will also develop weather and climate services, with the aim of directly strengthening Ireland’s national forecasting capability.
AI has the potential to transform weather prediction by dramatically accelerating the process of generating accurate forecasts, UCD said.
“AIMSIR will have access to over 100 years of historical meteorological data and will be able to analyse this, alongside current satellite imagery and sensor data, to detect weather and climate trends faster than traditional methods, producing weather models that once took decades to develop, in just a few years.”
Advance weather prediction
UCD president professor Orla Feely said: “As our climate changes and extreme weather events become more frequent, advances in weather prediction are crucial for the protection of people and infrastructure in Ireland.
“This collaboration between University College Dublin and Met Éireann, Ireland’s national meteorological service, to establish the AIMSIR centre will bring together the latest advances in the knowledge and application of data science, meteorology and climate research and ensure that Ireland is at the forefront of this increasingly important area of scientific understanding.”
Storm damage on a farm. \ Philip Doyle
AIMSIR Centre director professor Andrew Parnell said: “This new research centre will provide incredible opportunities for our students to develop the next generation of advanced weather forecasting models which will be vital for our society as we move into an unprecedented period of climatic change.
“AI is already revolutionising weather forecasting and we will position UCD and Met Éireann at the forefront of that change."
Parnell is the Met Éireann professor of data science for climate and weather at UCD and will lead the new centre alongside Dr Conor Sweeney as deputy director.
Director of Met Éireann Eoin Moran said: “Met Éireann’s mission to protect life and property and to promote societal wellbeing is grounded in world-class science and innovation.
“The establishment and funding of an AI professorship in partnership with one of Ireland’s leading research institutions marks a major milestone in advancing that mission.
"The creation of the AIMSIR research centre reflects a strategic investment in building national expertise in the application of data science to weather and climate”.
Read more
Weekend weather: heavy rain for east and southeast
Rain driving cattle off land in the west
Artificial intelligence (AI) is to be used to help improve weather forecasting and the accuracy of predictions for extreme and multi-hazard weather events.
A new centre launched at University College Dublin (UCD) this Friday following a €5m investment from Met Éireann will harness AI to transform weather forecasting.
The first of its kind in Ireland, the AIMSIR (AI for Meteorological Services, Innovation and Research) Centre will bring together more than 60 UCD researchers across disciplines including mathematics, statistics, computer science, physics, engineering and climatology, who will focus on developing AI-driven forecasting tools.
They will also develop weather and climate services, with the aim of directly strengthening Ireland’s national forecasting capability.
AI has the potential to transform weather prediction by dramatically accelerating the process of generating accurate forecasts, UCD said.
“AIMSIR will have access to over 100 years of historical meteorological data and will be able to analyse this, alongside current satellite imagery and sensor data, to detect weather and climate trends faster than traditional methods, producing weather models that once took decades to develop, in just a few years.”
Advance weather prediction
UCD president professor Orla Feely said: “As our climate changes and extreme weather events become more frequent, advances in weather prediction are crucial for the protection of people and infrastructure in Ireland.
“This collaboration between University College Dublin and Met Éireann, Ireland’s national meteorological service, to establish the AIMSIR centre will bring together the latest advances in the knowledge and application of data science, meteorology and climate research and ensure that Ireland is at the forefront of this increasingly important area of scientific understanding.”
Storm damage on a farm. \ Philip Doyle
AIMSIR Centre director professor Andrew Parnell said: “This new research centre will provide incredible opportunities for our students to develop the next generation of advanced weather forecasting models which will be vital for our society as we move into an unprecedented period of climatic change.
“AI is already revolutionising weather forecasting and we will position UCD and Met Éireann at the forefront of that change."
Parnell is the Met Éireann professor of data science for climate and weather at UCD and will lead the new centre alongside Dr Conor Sweeney as deputy director.
Director of Met Éireann Eoin Moran said: “Met Éireann’s mission to protect life and property and to promote societal wellbeing is grounded in world-class science and innovation.
“The establishment and funding of an AI professorship in partnership with one of Ireland’s leading research institutions marks a major milestone in advancing that mission.
"The creation of the AIMSIR research centre reflects a strategic investment in building national expertise in the application of data science to weather and climate”.
Read more
Weekend weather: heavy rain for east and southeast
Rain driving cattle off land in the west
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