AI forecast for sea of clouds now available one week in advance

The laboratory of Professor Yuta Ohashi (Local Meteorology) at the Faculty of Biosphere-Geosphere Science, Okayama University of Science, has been providing an AI-based “Sea of Clouds Forecast” since fiscal year 2023 for locations such as Bitchu Matsuyama Castle.

Until now, the forecast covered only the following day, but as of October 1, it has been upgraded to provide weekly forecasts.

This system predicts the occurrence of the sea of clouds using AI that analyzes meteorological data published by the Japan Meteorological Agency, including wind speed, temperature, humidity, and precipitation both at the surface and in the upper atmosphere.

By expanding the AI model based on accumulated data, the system can now generate forecasts up to a week in advance.

The laboratory’s website displays the probability of sea-of-clouds occurrence for one week ahead at Bitchu Matsuyama Castle and in the Miyoshi Basin in Hiroshima Prefecture.

In addition to forecasts of radiation fog, the site also provides predictions for local wind phenomena such as the “Hijikawa River Fog” (Hijikawa-arashi) observed in Ozu City, Ehime Prefecture.

For details, please visit the Sea of Clouds AI Forecast website (Japanese only):

https://unkai.daynight.jp/unkai-t.html

Professor Ohashi commented,

“By using the weekly forecast, tourists can better understand the patterns and plan their trips accordingly, while travel agencies will find it easier to organize tours.

In addition, local governments can take advantage of the forecast to schedule food trucks or mobile cafés in coordination with the appearance of the sea of clouds.

I hope the system will be widely utilized.”