Extension of Computer Model Forecasts to 15 Days and Addition of “Pangu” AI Model Products on the “Earth Weather” Webpage

Extension of Computer Model Forecasts to 15 Days and Addition of “Pangu” AI Model Products on the “Earth Weather” Webpage

Ho Chun-kit

The Observatory enhanced the contents of the “Earth Weather” webpage in October 2023, by extending the forecast period of computer model weather forecasts to 15 days, enabling users to assess potential changes in weather further in advance. Products including forecasts of wind, temperature and mean sea-level pressure based on the “Huawei Cloud Pangu-Weather Model” (“Pangu model"), which is an artificial intelligence (AI) model for weather forecasting, were also added to the website.

In recent years, there has been rapid development in AI in various sectors. The Observatory introduced the “Pangu model” in mid-2023 and started running the model for weather forecasting on a trial basis by making use of AI and Big Data technology.

Forecast for 1 October 2023, for mean sea level pressure (indicated by isobars) and wind speed (indicated by coloured layers) by the European Centre for Medium-range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) model (left) and “Pangu model” (right) made on 22 September 2023. The former forecast that a tropical cyclone would affect the northern part of the South China Sea, while the latter did not indicate development of low pressure systems in the region