Financial support of 2.8 million euros allocated for climate scientists to implement future flood defenses and resilience initiatives.
In a bid to address the growing threat of climate change-induced flooding, Met Éireann has announced funding of €2.8 million for several climate and flood resilience projects across Irish academic institutions. These projects aim to advance flood forecasting and climate services, enhancing Ireland's preparedness for complex flood events in the era of climate change.
One of the key projects is the IMUFF (Integrated Multi-model, Multi-hazard Flood Forecasting) project led by Dr. Indiana Olbert at the University of Galway. The project focuses on compound coastal-fluvial flooding, a phenomenon involving simultaneous flooding from rivers and coastal tides or storm surges. IMUFF will develop an AI-based system for three-day-ahead flood forecasts, using diverse data sources to improve flood prediction accuracy and community preparedness. This system is designed to serve over 300 Irish communities at risk, enhancing resilience and readiness for complex flood events in a changing climate.
Another focus is updating standardized high-resolution climate projections for Ireland, combining local simulations with historical data to improve climate adaptation planning for local authorities and utilities. This work supports decision-making for infrastructure and disaster management to mitigate flood risks and other weather extremes.
The funding also involves collaborations with University College Cork and Maynooth University, highlighting a national effort to strengthen scientific capacity on climate impacts, weather extremes, and flood resilience in Ireland.
Other projects include research by Prof. Conor Murphy of Maynooth University on extremes across climates and time frames, and Dr. Vahid Aryanpur's climate-informed plans to support Ireland's net-zero ambitions. Dr. Paul Holloway will receive funding for climate services aimed at providing multi-sector benefits, while Dr. Páraic Ryan will research building resilience for future extreme events, focusing on Storm Ophelia's impact on Ireland.
The projects are part of the TRANSLATE climate research program and aim to:
- Improve understanding of flood risks due to interactions among river discharge, tides, and storm surges.
- Deliver advanced flood forecasting tools using AI and integrated data.
- Enhance climate services that translate scientific data into actionable guidance for government, communities, and infrastructure planners.
- Support local authorities with better tools for climate adaptation and resilience planning.
Recent events such as the Valencia floods in Spain last year and the flash flooding in Midleton, Co Cork, last October, have underscored the urgent need for such initiatives. As climate change continues to contribute to increased flooding incidents, these projects are crucial in making Ireland more flood resistant.
[1]: Source 1 - Met Éireann Press Release [3]: Source 3 - University of Galway Press Release [5]: Source 5 - Maynooth University Press Release
Read also:
- Explored the Popular Health Assessment with a Queue of 100,000 Aspiring Participants - Here's My Unadulterated Opinion
- Hearing impairment condition: Recognizing symptoms and management approaches
- Signs of Cataracts Emergence: Impact on Vision and Further Details
- Unusual signs of lupus: Recognizing them and seeking assistance
