Met Éireann is today marking World Meteorological Day. This year’s theme is:
The future of weather, climate and water across generations
As the WMO in their commemorative article mentions “Our weather, climate and water cycle will be different in future than in the past. Weather, climate and hydrological services will help us tackle the associated challenges and seize the opportunities.”
This year’s theme becomes especially relevant as earlier this week the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released its AR6 Synthesis Report, which provides an overview of the state of knowledge on the science of climate change, emphasizing new results since the publication of the Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) in 2014. The Synthesis Report states that while adverse impacts from human-caused climate change will continue to intensify, the extent to which current and future generations will experience a hotter and different world depends on choices now and in the near term. According to the report, this ‘window of opportunity’ to secure a ‘liveable and sustainable future for all’ is rapidly closing: Action in the next decade is needed. Specifically ‘rapid and sustained mitigation’ and adaptation is needed in order to reduce projected losses and damages in the future.
As Met Éireann continues to perform its mission to make Ireland weather and climate prepared, helping Irish society to be ready for and responsive to weather and climate challenges, the organisation wishes to celebrate this years’ World Meteorological Day theme by listening to and engaging with those future generations which may in experience a different climate and a different world in the coming decades. For this purpose, Met Éireann welcomes today the visit of 2023 BT Young Scientist Oisín Jackson (Mary Immaculate Secondary School, Co.Clare), who won the 2023 Met Éireann award at the event for his project “A statistical analysis of the relationship between precipitation and river discharge in the Aille River catchment area”.
Oisín Jackson with Gerry Murphy in January 2023
Oisín Jackson with his award at the BT Young Scientist Met Éireann stand
Photos and videos will follow on Met Éireann’s Twitter feed and Instagram from Oisin’s presentation and tour around the Forecast Office where he will meet many colleagues including Chief Hydrometeorologist – Head of Flood Forecasting Division, Eoin Sherlock and Met Éireann’s hydrometeorologists.
World Meteorological Day takes place every year on the 23rd of March and marks the introduction in 1950 of the Convention establishing the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), of which Ireland is a member. World Meteorological Day showcases the essential contribution of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services to the safety and wellbeing of society and is celebrated with activities around the world.