MAZU: China-Pakistan cooperation to see the storm before it hits

A butterfly flapping its wings in Brazil could, in theory, set off a tornado in Texas.

The idea, often used to illustrate the "butterfly effect," captures the complexity of Earth's atmosphere: a tiny disturbance can trigger a chain of changes that eventually develops into a powerful storm.

For meteorologists, the challenge is to detect those changes as early as possible.

In Pakistan, where extreme weather events are becoming increasingly frequent, a China-developed artificial intelligence platform called MAZU is helping meteorologists strengthen weather forecasting and early warning capabilities, turning vast amounts of atmospheric data into information that can give people more time to prepare.

From uncertainty to early warning In an interview with CGTN, Furrukh Bashir, Director of the Research and Development Division at the Pakistan Meteorological Department, said Pakistan is ranked among the countries most vulnerable to climate change.

Heat waves, extreme precipitation and floods are placing growing pressure on communities, particularly those whose livelihoods depend on agriculture.

For farmers, increasingly unpredictable weather can turn an entire harvest into a gamble.

"Whenever we sow our fields, it starts raining without warning," said Muhammad Ijaz, a local farmer.

"The seeds are destroyed, and the fields are damaged.

The weather has become very unpredictable." The uncertainty is not limited to rainfall.

Climate change is expected to bring Pakistan more frequent heat waves, heavier precipitation and flooding, increasing the need for timely and accurate forecasts.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department is responding by modernizing its forecasting capabilities and strengthening its use of advanced technology.

"With that, the Pakistan Meteorological Department is also modernizing itself, so that they may at least plan accordingly and save their lives in the wake of a disaster," said Bashir.

One of the technologies supporting that effort is MAZU, an AI-powered weather early warning solution developed in China.