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The network will be the first in the UK that is focused on understanding the impact of extreme weather conditions across the country
The UK government has announced a new initiative to provide earlier warnings for devastating floods and droughts. Backed by £40 million, this project will use advanced technology and real-time monitoring to protect communities from the increasing threat of extreme weather.
The project, led by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH), will use sensors in rivers and a large data bank to predict where and when floods and droughts are likely to happen. By monitoring factors such as river levels, weather conditions, and ground saturation in real-time, scientists will create better models to forecast these events.
This effort is designed to help local authorities and the Environment Agency prepare for and respond to extreme weather, reducing the damage and economic losses.
The cost of flooding and droughts in the UK currently stands at £740 million each year.
“This project will help drive that progress, with dedicated teams using the most advanced tech to crunch data gathered from our rivers and paint a clear picture of its likely impact – using the power of science and tech to keep the public safe,” said UK Science and Technology Secretary, Peter Kyle in a press release.
The findings from this project will be shared globally to help other countries facing similar challenges with extreme weather.
“Our new institute will bring together a team of world-leading researchers and the latest technology to ensure our communities, businesses and farms are protected from these devastating events,” said Emma Hardy, UK floods minister.
Join Sir Chris Bryant, Minister of State for Data Protection and Telecoms for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on day 2 of Connected Britain, 11-12 September in London. Get tickets here.
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