Scientists at the MAC-Air Center are studying how changes in atmospheric composition are influencing air quality, weather and climate, with the aim of improving forecasts and supporting measures to address pollution and climate change.

The initiative brings together multiple research institutions, including the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, alongside partners such as the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Seoul National University, Tsinghua University, Nanjing University and the University of Helsinki.

Researchers are focusing on the interactions between aerosols, solar radiation and clouds, using China’s rapidly changing atmospheric conditions as a case study.

Continue reading Researchers investigate links between air pollution, extreme weather and climate at Meteorological Technology International.

ForecastWatch has launched a new independent platform for weather forecast verification and market intelligence.

The release brings an expansion to the company’s verification capabilities, introduces an anonymized participation model supported by like-to-like benchmarking groups called Markets, and adds new API and data integration tools. The platform now covers more than 50 forecast producers over 2,400 weather stations worldwide.

The verification upgrade is the most significant aspect of the new release. Where the previous platform focused on post-forecast-day analysis, the new platform extends verification across the full forecast lifecycle – adding pre-Forecast Day risk detection through Forecast Risks, Forecast Watchlist and Forecast Email Alerts, and isolating station-level issues through a new Station Watchlist.

Continue reading ForecastWatch expands with launch of new independent platform for weather forecast verification at Meteorological Technology International.

Atmospheric G2 has obtained a weather forecasting license from the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), allowing it to provide regulated meteorological services in Japan under its own name.

The approval enables the company to expand its operations in Japan’s energy sector, offering forecasting services to trading firms, utilities and other market participants in compliance with local regulations.

“Securing our JMA license is a critical step in deepening our support for Japan’s energy trading community,” said Todd Navarra, the CEO of Atmospheric G2. “Weather drives volatility in power, LNG, renewables and broader commodities markets. Operating under a JMA license allows us to deliver the trusted, compliant and high-precision forecasting solutions that Japanese firms require to manage risk and optimize performance.”

Under Japan’s regulatory framework, organizations providing weather forecasts for the country must hold a JMA license and meet defined operational and technical requirements.

Continue reading Atmospheric G2 secures Japan weather forecasting license at Meteorological Technology International.

China’s research icebreaker Xuelong has returned after a 160-day Antarctic expedition, completing meteorological research activities during a voyage covering more than 34,000 nautical miles.

The mission formed part of China’s 42nd Antarctic expedition and included extensive atmospheric and weather observations at Zhongshan Station and Great Wall Station.

During the expedition, the meteorological team carried out routine observations of cloud cover, visibility and weather conditions, alongside measurements of temperature, humidity, air pressure, wind speed and direction, radiation and sunshine. Monitoring of greenhouse and reactive gases was also conducted to support ongoing climate and atmospheric research.

The team also undertook two experimental observation programs aimed at improving data accuracy and coverage.

Continue reading China completes Antarctic meteorological research mission with Xuelong icebreaker at Meteorological Technology International.

Researchers have developed a new deep learning-based method to measure ocean surface currents using data from existing weather satellites, offering higher-resolution insights into interactions between the ocean and atmosphere.

The approach, known as GOFlow (Geostationary Ocean Flow), analyzes thermal imagery from geostationary weather satellites to track how ocean surface temperature patterns evolve over time. By applying artificial intelligence, the system can infer the movement of underlying currents at a much finer temporal and spatial scale than traditional methods.

The study, published in Nature Geoscience, was led by scientists from the UC San Diego Scripps Institution of Oceanography and collaborating institutions.

Continue reading AI tool uses weather satellite data to map ocean currents in near real time at Meteorological Technology International.

A new open-access tool designed to assess the accuracy of climate models has been launched by an international team of researchers, significantly reducing the time required for evaluation.

The Rapid Evaluation Framework (REF) was developed by scientists involved in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP), a global initiative that supports the development and comparison of climate models used in major assessments, including those by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

Climate models simulate interactions between the atmosphere, oceans and land surface to help scientists understand past climate trends and project future changes. Evaluating how well these models reflect real-world conditions has traditionally been a time-consuming process, often taking months.

Continue reading New tool speeds up climate model evaluation at Meteorological Technology International.

Xiong’an National Climate Observatory was officially inaugurated on April 1 in Xiong’an New Area, Hebei. The facility – China’s 27th national climate observatory – will transmit basic meteorological observation data in real time to the TianQing meteorological big data cloud platform, supporting climate monitoring and assessment, high-resolution forecasting, early warning and sector-specific meteorological services.

National climate observatories in China are ground-based, comprehensive stations designed for long-term, continuous and integrated observation of the climate system and its interactions. They also serve as platforms for scientific research, collaboration and talent development.

The new observatory is expected to support regional priorities in Xiong’an, including ecological protection of Baiyangdian Lake, urban safety operations and the development of emerging sectors such as the low-altitude economy, all of which require higher-precision and continuous climate observations.

Continue reading China inaugurates 27th national climate observatory in Hebei at Meteorological Technology International.

NASA is trialling a high-resolution weather modeling system from Meteomatics to improve forecasting for launch and facility operations at the Wallops Flight Facility.

Range meteorologists at Wallops are using Meteomatics’ US1k weather model alongside its MetX forecasting platform to gain more detailed insight into local weather conditions that can affect launch activities and site safety.

According to Meteomatics, the US1k model offers a resolution nine times higher than other commonly used weather models, enabling more precise analysis of localized weather phenomena. The data is integrated into the MetX platform, where it is presented through customizable visualizations to support decision-making.

Continue reading NASA tests high-resolution weather model for launch operations at Meteorological Technology International.

A regional training initiative is underway to strengthen flood forecasting capabilities in Central Africa, where floods are becoming more frequent and severe.

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO), in collaboration with the AGRHYMET Regional Center and the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI), is supporting the development of the FANFAR river flood forecasting system across the region.

FANFAR provides forecasts of river flood risk up to 10 days in advance, using hydrological modeling of major river basins alongside meteorological data.

The initiative follows significant flooding events in 2024, when floods in Chad and the Democratic Republic of Congo affected 1.9 million and 1.2 million people respectively, according to OCHA.

Continue reading Regional training aims to improve flood forecasting in Central Africa at Meteorological Technology International.

AAC Clyde Space has secured a €76.3m (US$88.6m) contract from OHB Sweden to supply microwave radiometers for the EPS-Sterna weather satellite program.

The order covers 20 instruments, which will serve as the primary payload for the next-generation European weather satellites. Work on the contract has started immediately, with the first six units scheduled for delivery by the end of 2028. The remaining instruments will be delivered at a rate of two per year through 2035.

The microwave radiometers, developed by AAC Clyde Space subsidiary AAC Omnisys in Gothenburg, Sweden, measure atmospheric temperature and humidity – data used in numerical weather prediction.

Continue reading AAC Clyde Space wins €76.3m contract for EPS-Sterna satellite instruments at Meteorological Technology International.