AI plays key role in weather forecast: WMO

Dr. Abdulla Al Mandous, President of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and Director-General of the UAE National Centre of Meteorology (NCM), held a fruitful meeting with Amanat Umbetbayev, Board Member of Kazakhstan’s National Space Centre, during his visit to the Center’s headquarters in Astana.

The visit comes in line with the continuous efforts of Dr. Al Mandous to enhance international cooperation in the fields of meteorology and space, and to advance climate forecasting systems in the UAE and the wider region.

The meeting addressed opportunities to strengthen cooperation between the UAE and Kazakhstan in areas such as space observation, satellite programmes, atmospheric data analysis, and weather forecasting.

Both sides emphasised the importance of exchanging expertise and modern technologies to build capacities in addressing extreme climate events, and agreed on the need to develop joint programmes that expand observation networks to support sustainable development in Central Asia and the region.

Dr. Al Mandous highlighted that the UAE’s NCM has become a regional model in developing monitoring and analytical systems, through expanding its radar and observation networks and adopting artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms to improve both short- and long-term forecast accuracy, enhancing the country’s ability to provide accurate and timely data to support climate and community security.

He further pointed to the importance of the recent international workshop hosted by the NCM on the use of AI in weather forecasting, which brought together experts from the public and private sectors, academia, WMO modeling centres, national meteorological and hydrological services, and the WMO Scientific Advisory Panel.

Dr. Al Mandous emphasised that AI has become a central pillar in improving forecast models and supporting the UN’s “Early Warnings for All” initiative, launched by Secretary-General António Guterres, which aims to ensure that all people worldwide have access to accurate and comprehensive early warning services by 2028.

The Kazakh side provided a comprehensive overview of the history of the National Space Centre and its achievements in launching satellites and advancing space research, as well as its future plans to expand observation capabilities to promote scientific knowledge and sustainable growth.

WAM