Upgraded MAZU to enhance forecasting

During the forum, China delivered customized MAZU systems to meteorological authorities of Sri Lanka and Jordan.

Athula Kumara Karunanayake, director of Sri Lanka's Department of Meteorology, said the system will help the island nation strengthen disaster preparedness as it faces growing climate risks.

As a tropical island in the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka frequently experiences extreme weather events including floods and droughts.

The MAZU system can provide forecasts ranging from one-day warnings for disaster response to monthly and seasonal predictions, which are valuable for agriculture, fisheries, aviation and water management, Karunanayake said.

By linking meteorological forecasts with disaster management agencies and other departments, the system could help deliver early warnings more effectively and reduce economic losses and casualties, he added.

Officials from Jordan said the customized solution will support the country's efforts to cope with climate-related risks such as sandstorms, heat waves and drought.

Raed Rafid, director of the Jordan Meteorological Department, said the MAZU system will help forecasters issue warnings to the public by integrating multiple models, satellite data and AI tools.

"The system has many models, including AI and satellite information, which help forecasters make better decisions," Rafid said.

Cooperation between Jordan and China has included training programs and technical workshops for forecasters and engineers. He added that the customized version could open the door for further collaboration.

Since its initial release in 2025, the MAZU solution has been deployed in seven countries and supports cloud-based use in more than 40 nations, providing meteorological data products to 153 countries and regions, according to CMA.

International training programs linked to the system have also benefited participants from 89 countries, it added.

zhaoyimeng@chinadaily.com.cn