Spot-on weather forecast with Nowcast
 

Accurate weather forecasts and climate information are its best-known forte, but NEA’s Meteorological Services Division (MSD) is now also on earthquake and tsunami watch.

In the wake of the tsunami last Christmas that left a swathe of destruction in littoral states of the Indian Ocean, MSD is collaborating with the local universities and related organisations in ASEAN to develop new capabilities that will enable it to better monitor and mitigate the impact of catastrophic natural disasters.

“Although it is unlikely for Singapore to be hit by a tsunami, we have, nevertheless, taken steps to prepare the nation for such a crisis,” said Mr Foong Chee Leong, NEA’s Director-General, Meteorological Services Division.

By 2007, MSD will set up an early warning system for tsunamis. It is currently undertaking studies to model and predict possible tsunamis arising from undersea earthquakes and other tsunamigenic sources, as well as to assess the potential impact of tsunami waves on Singapore. This will enhance its existing tsunami surveillance network and capability to issue timely tsunami warnings and advisories.

Meanwhile, NEA has established links with the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre and the Japan Meteorological Agency to access their tsunami warnings. It is also working with ASEAN to establish, by end 2005, a data and information sharing arrangement on incidences and warnings of tsunamis.



Schools get weather stations and reality lessons on climate change
Learning about the weather, climate change, global warning, and the environment is now more fun, thanks to the National Weather Study Project which was launched in March this year.

The programme seeks to give students, from primary to junior college level, the chance to learn through meaningful hands-on activities and real life situations, and the daily application of scientific, IT and mathematical knowledge.

And to enable them to do so, each of the more than 150 schools participating in the programme will receive a mini weather station, sponsored by Senoko Power.

The National Weather Study Project is supported by NEA, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources. It is hoped that the knowledge and skills picked up will help students in their studies and career. They also stand to win a trip to Europe and other prizes in a national level National Weather Study Project competition in 2006 and 2007.
 


Singaporeans have for some time been able to get weather-on-demand forecasts for specific spots on the island on their mobile phones via Nowcast, brainchild of NEA’s MSD. This service provides more accurate (close to 90% accuracy) forecasts than general weather forecasts.

MSD also provides detailed weather forecasts to civil aviation, shipping, and military users and organisers of large-scale outdoor events. Most of these services can be accessed via a hotline, the Internet, and private Intranets for aviation and shipping.

Lightning risk information are available to help schools plan their outdoor activities and enhance safety. MSD also offers 12-hour, three-day and fortnightly weather outlooks, international cities' weather forecasts for more than 250 cities worldwide, widespread heavy rain warnings, tide information, lightning risk watch and other specialised services.

Lifting the haze over ASEAN
MSD also actively monitors weather and climatic changes in the region and provides information on such changes to its neighbouring counterparts.

It hosts the ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) which monitors the region via satellite for land/forest fires, spread of hot spots and smoke haze, and forewarns the region of an outbreak. MSD also provides daily satellite pictures of such changes and hot spots to ASEAN countries through the ASMC Intranet.