The centre will be able to analyse over 100 years of meteorological data alongside current satellite imagery to detect weather and climate trends faster.

MET ÉIREANN AND University College Dublin have teamed up to launch a new AI centre that aims to transform weather forecasting amid the growing risks posed by climate change.

The AIMSIR (AI for Meteorological Services, Innovation and Research) centre, the first of its kind in the country, was established with a €5 million investment from the national forecaster.

Bringing together over 60 UCD researchers across disciplines including maths, physics, engineering and climatology, the college said the centre will provides Ireland with "a hub of expertise at the intersection of data science, meteorology, and climate research".

The centre will focus on developing AI-driven forecasting tools to improve the accuracy of predictions for extreme and multi-hazard weather events, along with the development of weather and climate services.

It will be able to analyse over 100 years of historical meteorological data alongside current satellite imagery and sensor data to detect weather and climate trends faster than traditional methods - such as producing weather models that once took decades to develop in just a few years.

One of its goals is to integrate AI models into Met Éireann to help reduce vulnerability to the increasing risks posed by high-impact weather events.

Around 20 PhD students will be trained in the first years of the centre, and a new Master of Science in AI for Meteorology and Climate Change is also planned at the college.

"This centre will play a key role in strengthening our national resilience and ensuring Ireland is not only prepared for the impacts of extreme weather but positioned to lead in the global response," Research and Innovation Minister James Lawless said.

UCD President Professor Orla Feely said: "As our climate changes and extreme weather events become more frequent, advances in weather prediction are crucial for the protection of people and infrastructure in Ireland."

Feely said the centre will bring together "the latest advances in the knowledge and application of data science, meteorology, and climate research and ensure that Ireland is at the forefront of this increasingly important area of scientific understanding."

Met Éireann director Eoin Moran said its mission to protect life and property, and to promote societal wellbeing, is grounded in world-class science and innovation.

"The creation of the AIMSIR research centre reflects a strategic investment in building national expertise in the application of data science to weather and climate," he said.

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