
Countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative have shown significant interest in a new meteorology project launched by China. This initiative utilizes artificial intelligence to enhance weather forecasting, which is particularly relevant given the increasing frequency of extreme weather events globally. The project, funded by China's Ministry of Science and Technology and led by the Centre for Earth System Modelling and Prediction of the China Meteorological Administration, aims to strengthen early warning systems and improve responses to extreme weather. It builds upon China's MAZU early warning system, an open-source meteorological service platform already in use in countries like Ethiopia and Pakistan for real-time weather monitoring and disaster alerts. Kouam Magloire, head of the data processing office of meteorological services in Cameroon, highlighted the project's potential to bolster his country's early warning capabilities. Leta Bekele Gudina, an expert from the Ethiopian Meteorological Institute, noted China's leadership in meteorological forecasting and AI development, expressing Ethiopia's hope to access advanced technologies, train local professionals, and address gaps in nowcasting and early warning services. The China Meteorological Administration indicated that many Belt and Road countries face rising risks from extreme weather, with meteorological disasters causing an average of $214.7 billion in direct economic losses annually between 1980 and 202
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Reporter Ethiopia.
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