Met Éireann, the Irish meteorological service, and University College Dublin (UCD) have launched a major new center that will use AI to enhance weather forecasting and support Ireland’s preparation for the growing risks brought by climate change.
The AIMISIR (AI for Meteorological Services, Innovation and Research) Centre is the first of its kind in Ireland, made possible by a €5m (US$5.9m) investment from Met Éireann.
The center will bring together more than 60 UCD researchers across disciplines including mathematics, statistics, computer science, physics, engineering and climatology, providing Ireland with a hub of expertise at the intersection of data science, meteorology and climate research.
AIMISR has been envisioned as a cornerstone of Met Éireann’s strategic plan to use the advances in AI to protect life and property in Ireland.
Met Éireann believes AI has the potential to transform weather prediction by dramatically accelerating the process of generating accurate forecasts.
AIMSIR will have access to over 100 years of historical meteorological data. When this is analyzed alongside current satellite imagery and sensor data, it is predicted that AI will be able detect weather and climate trends significantly more quickly than traditional methods, producing in just a few years weather models that once took decades to develop.
It will focus on developing AI-driven forecasting tools to improve the accuracy of predictions for extreme and multi-hazard weather events, and the development of Ireland’s weather and climate services.
Met Éireann says that extreme weather events are becoming increasingly frequent and, in some cases, more severe across Ireland. Damaging winds, and intense rainfall leading to flooding pose a serious challenge to public safety and infrastructure.
Launching the AIMSIR Centre, James Lawless, the minister for further and higher education, research, innovation and science, said, “I am delighted to launch the AIMSIR Centre at University College Dublin, a pioneering initiative that places Ireland at the cutting edge of AI-driven climate and weather research.
“Through my department, we are investing in the infrastructure, talent and innovation needed to help meet the challenges of a changing climate. AIMSIR reflects the best of Irish research: interdisciplinary, future-focused and rooted in a deep tradition of environmental awareness.
“This center will play a key role in strengthening our national resilience and ensuring Ireland is not only prepared for the impacts of extreme weather but positioned to lead in the global response.”
Eoin Moran, the director of Met Éireann, 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 center reflects a strategic investment in building national expertise in the application of data science to weather and climate.”
In related news, the ECMWF will use Europe’s first exascale computer for weather prediction
