In this episode of The WeatherPod we invite Shruti Nath of Oxford University into the studio.

Shruti’s research is about using data-driven, Artificial Intelligence or AI techniques for improving weather forecasts - and rainfall forecasts in particular.

The emphasis of her work is very much on linking research to action. A key part of this is collaboration with local meteorological departments in the Greater Horn of Africa on the development of operational AI-based post-processing techniques.

Our discussion was wide ranging and shed much new light on the potential value of AI in weather forecasting.

The areas we covered ranged from from the pros and cons of using AI-based post-processing techniques for raw weather data, to AI’s potential role in generating much larger ensembles than are currently possible.

We examined  the massive step change cloud computing could bring to local forecasting capabilities by enabling weather services in developing countres to train and develop their own AI models.

We also looked at the influence AI could have in coming years on the way weather information is used by weather affected end users.

Finally, we took a gaze into the future. How did Shruti think the global weather enterprise might evolve in future years in the light of the emerging AI tools she’s been working with?