The China Meteorological Administration (CMA), part of the Ministry of Natural Resources, has officially given the MAZU-Nepal AI-based weather platform to the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM) in Nepal. This new system will help with early warnings, disaster forecasts, and preparing for climate change.
The platform was introduced into Nepal’s early warning system during a ceremony at the Second China-Central Asia Meteorological Cooperation Forum in Urumqi, Xinjiang Province.
The MAZU-Nepal platform is made to handle the challenges of Nepal’s difficult mountain terrain. It combines two important technologies: China’s special AI forecasting models named Fengqing and Fengshun, and data from FengYun-3 and FengYun-4 satellites for weather use. These satellites provide real-time information on things like severe weather events, lightning, and sudden changes in rainfall. After serious mudslides at the Kerung-Rasuwa border on August 29, the system was first tested before being fully used in emergency response efforts.
CMA Administrator Chen Zhenlin believes that early warning systems are very important to protect lives and livelihoods, so they need support beyond just technology. As part of this, China will send the MAZU-FengYun Satellite AI Box along with other hardware to Nepal. Engineers will also provide training sessions for local meteorologists in Nepal and establish ongoing data sharing between the two countries.