Countries in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) are joining a new Chinese meteorology project. It uses artificial intelligence (AI) to improve weather forecasts and respond to increasing extreme weather events.
The project is led by the China Meteorological Administration’s Center for Earth System Modeling and Prediction. It is funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology. Additionally, it builds on China’s open-source MAZU early warning platform. MAZU already helps countries like Pakistan and Ethiopia monitor weather in real time and issue disaster alerts.
Experts from participating countries highlighted the project’s benefits. Kouam Magloire from Cameroon said it could strengthen early warning systems. Altansuvd Bold from Mongolia noted the urgent need for AI-powered nowcasting, which predicts weather from minutes to hours ahead. Ethiopia’s Leta Bekele Gudina emphasized opportunities for technology transfer, professional training, and better disaster response.
Many BRI countries face rising risks from extreme weather. Between 1980 and 2022, direct economic losses from such disasters averaged $214.7 billion annually, nearly 28% of global losses. Limited observation networks and computing resources make disaster preparedness harder.
The AI system combines physical atmospheric models with AI methods. It will produce forecasts from short-term to sub-seasonal scales. Moreover, it will be adapted to local conditions and deployed flexibly based on each country’s technical infrastructure.
Project leader Han Wei said the platform will operate for at least six months in over six countries. It will provide early warning services to an estimated 10 million people. Academicians Chen Deliang and Zhang Xiaoye stressed the project’s innovative use of AI. They also highlighted the importance of regional downscaling to meet local forecasting needs.
Overall, the initiative represents a major step in using advanced technology to improve disaster preparedness. It also supports sustainable development in Belt and Road nations.
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