Researchers at the Met Office and the University of Exeter have developed an innovative AI model that can forecast ocean currents in the Gulf of Mexico using just a laptop, marking a significant advancement in marine operational decision-making.

This project exemplifies a collaborative effort among academic, government, and industry organizations, aimed at improving maritime operational safety and decision-making through accurate forecasts.

The model, which is part of the Machine Learning for Low-Cost Offshore Modelling (MaLCOM) framework, was recently honored with the ASCE Offshore Technology Conference Best Paper Award in 2025.

The MaLCOM framework originated from a five-year research initiative that focused on practical applications in marine environments, demonstrating the potential of AI in weather and climate science.

Notably, the developed AI model is designed to efficiently utilize sparse observational data, allowing it to run on standard desktop computers while maintaining flexibility and efficiency.

Future enhancements to the model are anticipated, which will broaden its applications in areas such as offshore energy, marine search and rescue, and defense.

Dr. Edward Steele, the lead author, emphasized the model's potential to revolutionize ocean predictions, highlighting its low-cost, data-driven nature.

Ongoing research is also focused on improving the MaLCOM framework's capabilities for ocean current forecasting and wave predictions.

Originally designed for predicting ocean waves in UK coastal waters, the MaLCOM framework has been successfully adapted to forecast currents specifically in the Gulf of Mexico.

The model's architecture allows for the examination of its temporal and spatial behavior, which enhances trust in its predictions and guides future improvements.

Its design fosters easy analysis of its behavior, paving the way for future enhancements and ensuring reliability in its outputs.

This collaboration underscores the importance of partnerships in advancing the application of AI within the realm of weather and climate science.