Tag: #weather

Met Éireann and University College Dublin launch new AI-focused research programme supporting weather and climate services development

Met Éireann, the Irish National Meteorological Service, announces a new multi-million-euro academic research programme at University College Dublin (UCD) to support the further development of weather and climate services for Ireland using data science and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

The Met Éireann Weather and Climate Research Professorship will incorporate a €1 million annual investment for an initial period of five years. Overseen by an expert knowledge transfer team at Met Éireann working closely with a professor-led research group at UCD School of Mathematics and Statistics and UCD Earth Institute, the partnership will build further capacity and capability in data science and AI in the higher education sector.

In direct response to impacts of climate change, the overarching objectives of the collaboration will focus on enhancing citizen safety, bolstering economic and environmental resilience, and supporting weather-sensitive sectors, by harnessing the latest innovations in the use of data science and AI in weather and climate services.

The programme will strive to bridge the gap between research and operations, by conducting cutting-edge, user-oriented studies, in the context of high impact weather, flood forecasting and the understanding of our climate, and using knowledge gained to train the next generation of scientists and engineers.

The research and development of AI models and techniques will enable Met Éireann to build on existing state-of-the-art forecasting capabilities, while developing skill levels to further enhance national capabilities and capacity in weather, climate and hydrology, and help to make Ireland even more weather and climate prepared for the future.

The establishment of the Met Éireann Research Professorship follows an international peer review process, through which UCD’s application was selected based on its demonstration of excellence and impact, and its commitment to collaboration and knowledge transfer for the benefit of society and the economy.

Eoin Moran, Director of Met Éireann said:

“This Professorship is an innovative and first-of-its-kind partnership for Met Éireann. In doing this, we are putting Met Éireann at the forefront of technological developments that will shape national meteorological and hydrological services for years to come.

“Not only is it a significant investment in the development of national forecasting capabilities and capacity but it will help make Ireland even more weather and climate prepared, by enhancing and improving the level of information available to the public.

“We are hugely excited by the prospect of working closely with UCD, and of the potential opportunities this could lead to in the responsible use of AI for good.”

Professor Helen Roche, UCD’s Interim Vice-President for Research, Impact and Innovation said:

“The emergence of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning provides an opportunity to enhance our forecasting capabilities. UCD’s world-leading experts in this dynamic field are conceiving and evolving creative solutions that impact all of society and our daily life.

“UCD researchers will help develop AI-enhanced models to enable Met Éireann to build on its forecasting capabilities and make Ireland even more weather and climate prepared.

“This ground-breaking partnership between UCD and Met Éireann will help produce the next generation of climate and weather scientists and help ensure that we have the tools and expertise needed to tackle the climate emergency.

“UCD and Met Éireann have a long-standing relationship in working together to enhance weather forecasting. By harnessing the power of AI to support the protection of life, property and infrastructure, this partnership takes that relationship to the next level.”

Irish space scientists develop new project using AI to forecast space weather

Space scientists from the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS) have developed a new project, using artificial intelligence, which will allow them to give faster and more accurate warnings about powerful explosions on the Sun, known as solar flares.

Solar flares can disrupt vital technologies and infrastructure, including radio communications, electrical power grids, navigation systems and pose risks to spacecrafts and astronauts.

This new project, called ‘Active Region Classification and Flare Forecasting’ (ARCAFF), will use a special kind of artificial intelligence known as ‘deep learning’ to make better predictions than what is currently used in operational forecasting centres. It will also provide information about how certain the predictions are – information which is not currently available.

Commenting on the project, Dr Shane Maloney, Senior Research Fellow at DIAS and Project Lead for ARCAFF, said “As scientists, we have long been predicting the weather, but now we also have the ability to predict events happening much further away on the Sun.  It may seem like these events have little effect on our daily lives, as we are largely protected from the Sun’s harmful radiation, by the magnetic field around the Earth. However, solar flares emission can change the atmosphere and create technological issues, like interfering with radio communication and GPS on Earth. They can also create beautiful displays in our night skies like the Northern Lights or aurora borealis.

“Space weather covers a variety of phenomena that occur because of the Sun’s turbulent behaviour, and its predictions are becoming more important as we further advance technology. Studying these space weather events helps us learn more about the Sun and better predict space weather. The new ARCAFF system will be more accurate and faster at giving us warnings about solar flares – which will greatly benefit space weather forecasters who provide guidance to spacecraft operators, and the power and aviation industries that are impacted by space weather.”

Also commenting on the ARCAFF project, Prof. Peter Gallagher, Head of Astronomy and Astrophysics at DIAS, said “The ARCAFF project is unique as it brings together science, analytics, and computing experts to work together in creating an advanced system to forecast solar flares. It has been an excellent opportunity for cross-disciplinary collaboration in DIAS and across the various partners involved.

“As well as being faster and more accurate at predicting solar flares, ARCAFF will make new datasets and software available for scientists to use, and the outputs of the project will be freely available online. We are also excited to educate the wider public about space weather and how it impacts Ireland and Europe, through our public engagement hub at DIAS Dunsink Observatory.”

The ARCAFF team includes partners across Europe that combines expertise in the fields of solar physics, machine learning, and computer science, including:

  • DIAS – solar physics and space weather forecasting experts;
  • Università di Genova in Italy – machine learning experts;
  • University of Westminster in the UK – science gateway development experts;
  • SZTAKI in Hungary – science gateway development experts.

The project is funded by Horizon Europe. Further information can be found here.

Tech Review – JISULIFE Portable Neck Fan Pro1

Neckfans might not be for everyone but I have tried a few here over the years and believe me they work, they may be cumbersome however it is a trade-off to keep you nice and cool, this one however is one of the lighter non cumbersome models I have tested and works really well with plenty of cooling power for the hot weather and during my testing of this model and the portable hand fan I had the perfect weather to try these out and they work a treat.

With two simple controls on the device one being the power button and one being the speed it is simple to use and you can set the desired power you need, there is an LCD display on the same side as the power button which tells you your battery life and the speed the fan is at so it could not be easier to use..

It is comfortable to wear for hours on end and does not feel weighty like others I have tried and this could also be packed into your travel bag too as it is not particularly large in size, in fact around the same size as a standard pair of headphones. It also comes in several colours too which is nice and overall a simple effective product that is not too expensive either and you can be cool all you like at the speed you like.

 

Specs

Brand JisuLife

Color Moonlight/Sakura/Deep Ocean

Electric fan design Wearable Fan

Power Source Battery Powered

Product Dimensions 9.13″D x 2.64″W x 11.02″H

Material Plastic

Item Weight 11.64 Ounces

Special Feature Breathable Neck Collar, 100 Speeds Turbo Air Duct, LED Display, Stepless Knob

Features 

  • Industry Pioneer: 100-speed stepless hurricane technology, personalized wind power, adjustable as you like.
  • Healthy Wind: Four air ducts to supply air in different areas, with a soft wind feeling like clouds.
  • Super Battery Life: Power and wind conditions are always informed.
  • Stylish and Lightweight: Mini fashion design, 322g ultra light and no burden.
  • Product link:
    Amazon- https://amzn.to/3pvJPzS
    Official website- https://jisulife.com/en-sg/products/neckfan-pro-1 (20% coupon – JISU20PRO)

Video Review

Spring controversy, storm names and other Irish weather insights to be explored by Evelyn Cusack at special Imbolc event

The Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies will host a special talk by Met Éireann forecaster, Evelyn Cusack, to mark the first day of spring or ‘Imbolc’ on Wednesday, 1st February, 7pm – 8pm, at DIAS, Burlington Road.

The talk – ‘Ireland’s Weather and Climate: A Journey Through Time’ – will take attendees on a journey from the time of Snowball Earth (around 600 million years ago) to the birth of scientific weather forecasting.

Ms. Cusack will also explore ‘spring controversy’, which debates whether Saint Brigid’s Day is the start of spring. The ancient Celtic festival of Imbolc is said to mark the seasonal shift from winter to spring. Imbolc is celebrated on 1st February, the same day on which the feast of Saint Brigid is marked.

Commenting today (30.01.23), Dr. Eucharia Meehan, CEO and Registrar of DIAS, said: “We’re honored to kick-off this year’s events, and celebrate Imbolc with an iconic speaker like Evelyn Cusack. Marking the shift from winter to spring, Imbolc – or Saint Brigid’s Day as it is also known – is an important festival in the Irish calendar both scientifically and culturally. At DIAS, we have expertise focusing on both on Celtic Studies and Cosmic Physics, amongst others – and a festival like Imbolc is a great opportunity to highlight some synergies in both these fields. This promises to be a fascinating insight into weather forecasting and our climate, and we would encourage people to join us for the talk.”

Evelyn Cusack has over 30 years of experience in forecasting and broadcasting on TV and Radio. She is the current Head of the Forecasting Division in Met Éireann, and is the chair of the EUMETNET Storm Naming Group, a network of 31 European National Meteorological Services based in Brussels, Belgium. She is also the National Emergency Coordination Group (NECG) Forecasting Lead for Severe Weather Events.

The lecture is free to attend and will take place on Wednesday, 1st February, 7pm – 8pm, at DIAS, Burlington Road. Places are limited and advance registration is required. To register, visit Eventbrite.

 

Is Your Weather App Equipped With These 5 Important Features? #Weather #Apps #Climacell

The modern-day weather app should not only be able to tell the weather, but it also needs to help us make decisions. It needs to have features that can make our lives a little easier and stress-free. If you are using a weather app, check if it has these 5 amazing (and necessary) features. If not, maybe it is time to get an upgrade.

#1 Regular weather updates

The most important feature that a weather app needs to have is the ability to provide regular weather updates. These updates are often the main reason why you are installing the app in the first place. You will probably plan for the day based on these updates.

A perfect weather app is the one that keeps you posted on all sorts of weather-related information. It should provide you with the latest temperature, humidity, precipitation rate, wind speed, and other weather-related information for your locality. Plus, the app should also be able to fetch weather from other areas of the country, as well as different parts of the world. ClimaCell is an app that does a fine job here with its improved radar system. This new weather radar is a feature that sets the app apart from its competitors.

#2 Accurate forecasts

Keeping you updated on the latest developments in your local weather is a job that every weather app must do without any fail. Besides this, it is also expected that the app will provide you with accurate forecasts. Every good weather app has its own way of retrieving weather data and analyzing it. Hence, based on this data analysis, the apps are able to predict the weather conditions for the upcoming weeks.

Of course, it will be foolish to think that the predictions will be accurate down to the last decimal point. However, a well-developed weather app will at least give you a good idea as to what the weather might be like in the upcoming days or weeks. Using the right local weather API tool can greatly improve the accuracy of these forecasts. It will never fail to surprise you with its precision, and it will not let you get caught in an unexpected rainstorm.

#3 Hourly weather breakdowns

We no longer plan by the day, and rather by the hour. In a day, we can go from attending classes or office to visiting someone in another state or city, and then coming back home again. Our lives are very busy nowadays, and in order to plan each action or decision, we need hourly weather breakdowns.

These breakdowns are somewhat like the weather forecasts, except instead of a weeklong prediction, we are presented with a breakdown of the weather on an hour-by-hour basis. It could be scorching hot in the morning, a little windy at noon, raining in the evening, and freezing cold at night – we never know. Hourly weather breakdowns can help us be aware of any unforeseen changes in the weather, and then allow us to plan or adjust our plans accordingly.

#4 AQI data

The air quality index (AQI) is a very important measure. It helps us realize the quality of the air around us. Give how the air around us is drastically deteriorating, we should be more aware of the air that we are breathing. 

The air quality index of a place is determined based on the concentration of certain particles present in our air. When the normal air is exposed to high levels of pollutants, the AQI increases. Generally, an AQI reading from 0-50 is considered good, and 50-100 is considered moderate. These are normal conditions basically. However, from this point onwards, the higher the AQI climbs, the worse the air gets. Sometimes, AQI readings will reach levels over 200. These conditions are very bad for our health and we need to prepare accordingly for these situations. 

Your weather app should give you insights into the AQI as well. By being aware of the conditions in your area, you can take necessary precautions before heading outside. 

#5 Weather intelligence

Weather intelligence is a technique by which apps can give you certain suggestions, based on the weather data. This is a technology that uses artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data analysis to better understand the weather conditions and their impact on us.

A modern weather app should be intelligent. It should be able to tell you what to do, and how you can benefit from it. For instance, assume that you are a farmer and the temperature is somewhat warm today. The app will tell you the exact temperature, precipitation rate, humidity, etc. The weather intelligence report from the app, on the other hand, will pass suggestions like how much water should you give to your crops or plants today, when should you give the water, whether or not you should apply fertilizer of any sort, and so on. Simply put, weather intelligence helps you to make decisions that can otherwise be difficult to make.

Preparing Irish businesses for increasingly extreme weather events.Noel O’Grady, Sungard AS #Weather #ICT #SungardAS

The impact of extreme weather events on business performance, both positively and negatively, should not be underestimated. Abnormal weather is the difference between observed weather and its normal value, which is typically calculated using the 30-year average.  With the news that Ireland can expect plunging temperatures and extreme storms to become a more regular occurrence, the question of how companies can best prepare and respond should be an increased priority for business owners. 

 

Production, supply, demand and operations can all be impacted by extreme weather. Abnormal weather patterns offer a unique form of disruption for companies and, in recent years, organisations in the fields of energy, water, telecoms, transport, retail, leisure and agriculture have all been affected in a variety of ways. Small businesses are the most vulnerable, with there being no simple way of telling how long the weather-related disruption can last. Prolonged periods of disruption can lead to financial distress, triggering shortfalls in sales, store closures and even job cuts.   

 

Thanks to climate change, the frequency and intensity of abnormal weather patterns have increased too, with a shift to warmer temperatures only set to further the threats. Financial losses caused by adverse weather that didn’t seem material enough for companies to concern themselves with 10 years ago, are now examined and managed by weather-based financial instruments that seek to cover the risk to which businesses are exposed. As recently as October 2019, the Irish government were forced to send out an orange weather warning in preparation for ex-hurricane Lorenzo, proof that the time has now come when businesses can no longer fail to have an effective back-up plan in place to limit the negative impacts of a disaster.   

 

Failure to plan 

 

The European Economic Area records that, over the period 1980 – 2017, total reported economic losses caused by weather and climate-related extremes in the member countries amounted to approximately EUR 453 billion. In 2018, Sinn Féin proposed a bill to make it compulsory for employers to close its place of business during a red alert weather warning. It stated that in the event of a place of work being subject to a red weather warning, an employer would be required to “close such place and make reasonable measures to inform all employees to stay away from it for the duration of that warning.”  

 

Organisations must review assumptions about the risks they face because of their direct influence on both organisational resilience and the bottom line. Key to deciding how to move forward is making an accurate assessment of the level of risk a business is willing to accept, and taking a multi-tiered approach to assess and plan for a range of threats.

 

Advice for organisations to consider today 

 

To best address extreme weather events, companies should consider the following: 

 

  • Get a good weather forecast. The quality and range of forecasts has improved markedly in recent years.
  • Evaluate how to react to a disruption of this nature – organisations should look at completing an assessment of business impact, risk and overall resilience. 
  • Ensure ICT is robust yet agile – businesses must ensure an ICT service continuity plan is in place, and that it extends to disaster recovery scenarios. 
  • Prepare operations for action accordingly – this should consider business continuity processes, training and awareness processes for staff at all levels of the business, and vendor/supplier risk management too. 
  • Develop crisis leadership competencies within the executive team – this can include training, executive coaching and coached crisis scenarios.   
  • Foster a mutually supportive network of suppliers and stakeholders – examine market-wide crisis exercises and identify best practice. Also assess supply chain resilience. 

 

A growing trend 

 

Environmental risks have grown in prominence over the last decade and we can expect this trend to continue. Findings from the World Economic Forum’s 2019 Global Risks Report send a clear message to companies, with extreme weather events, natural disasters and climate change all highlighted as top concerns. 

 

As tempting as it might be to think “that’ll never happen to us”, understanding and investing in a business continuity plan, and business interruption insurance can greatly support recovery. The latter can be an invaluable safeguard for a business, for example allowing for the reimbursement of ongoing expenses and lost gross profit while a permanent business location is being repaired. 

 

Disasters can happen when least expected. Companies might not be able to prevent the storm, but they can take steps to handle the situation and keep operations up and running with minimal disruption. This is what the most resilient companies do, and it’s why they’ve stayed afloat while others have not.