A member of staff at the meteorological and hydrological station in Cua Lo Town, central Nghe An province measures sunshine hours during a day (Photo : VNA)Government have paid close attention to detailed extreme weather conditionforecasting and early warning of natural disasters following the 12th PartyCongress document in improving climate change monitoring capacity.
Facing more severe weather conditions like floods in the central region lastOctober, the weather forecasting agencies have applied new technology to helppredict and issue early warnings of typhoons five days before they makelandfall and warning of tropical depression three days earlier.
Rainfall warnings and severe cold waves now happen two to three days earlierwith the accuracy rate of about 75 to 90 percent.
Professor Tran Hong Thai, head of the Vietnam Meteorological and HydrologicalAdministration, said in 2019 and 2020, the industry forecasted accuratelyweather trends, especially water shortages and saltwater intrusion in thecentral and southern regions, thereby reducing damage in the agriculturalsector by 9.6 percent compared to 2016.
The sector promptly warned and forecasted the development of 13 typhoons andone tropical depression, 21 cold waves, 13 heat waves, 18 large-scale heavyrains and 17 floods nationwide. Thanks to the prediction, local people tookpreventive measures to minimise damage.
The sector has also modernised the network of hydro-meteorological monitoringstations with State and private investment in 782 independent rain-measuringstations and 284 surface meteorological stations. Hundreds of environmentalmonitoring stations have been built, connecting directly with the Ministry ofNatural Resources and Environment and provincial/city environmentaldepartments.
The Vietnam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration has put intooperation 63 satellite positioning stations, providing precise positioningservices for socio-economic activities.
In the context of climate change and intense weather conditions, the Vietnameseweather forecasting agencies have improved predicting capacity, especiallyearly, detailed warning of natural disasters.
Thai said the Vietnam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration said theywould enhance the forecasting capacity towards a modern direction, on par withthe World Meteorological Organisation. The weather forecast will show detailedprediction of each city and town. In particular, the sector will synchroniseand modernise hydro-meteorological forecasting and warning technology,improving service quality.
The administration will modernise the monitoring networks in the northernregion, mountainous areas where rain and storms often occur with highintensity. About 150 automatic hydro-meteorological control stations along thesea and islands will be invested, he said./.
VNA
