Meteorologists and scientists will work together to forecast when and where flooding will occur.
Meteorologists from Met Éireann and scientists from University College Dublin (UCD) are embarking on a project to enable them to predict where floods will occur across the country.
Meteorologist Brendan McWilliams explains on how each river catchment area reacts uniquely to heavy rain. The purpose of the project titled 'Telflood' is to analyse this relationship more closely in order to link the behaviour of each river valley to the amount of rain that is expected to fall.
The theme of this year's World Meteorological Day is 'Water in Cities'. Climate change has a part to play as different cities around the world have different experiences. Fakhrul Quyyam of the World Meteorlogical Organisation says that temperatures are on the rise.
When it comes to greenhouse gas emissions, Ireland has regularly breached the EEC guidelines. The larger the urban population, the greater the effect. By the year 2000, it is predicted that around half of the world's population will be living in cities and towns.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 23 March 1997. The reporter is Carole Coleman.
