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Last Updated: Feb 4th, 2008 - 13:26:35 |
Source: http://sunstkitts.com/paper/?asknw=view&asknw=view&sun=304758119802042008&an=141606089602032008&ac=Local
By the start of this year’s hurricane season, Caribbean disaster officials are expected to have the use of a state-of-the art Doppler Radar, which will greatly assist in the provision of accurate and timely weather information.
According to Director of Meteorological Services in Barbados Chester Layne, the new radar, which is part of a regional network warning system specifically designed for the Caribbean, will contribute to the provision of accurate, reliable, and timely information on meteorological phenomena for the protection of lives, livelihood and property.
“It represents the application of modern science and technology, and this will serve to enhance the capability of countries … in their effort to protect their population and property from the direct and indirect effects of high impact weather,” he added.
The meteorological official said the installation of the radar, coupled with the relevant skills that will be imparted to regional professionals, should go a long way in complementing current capabilities.
The European Union (EU)-funded $3.2 million euros project in Barbados will be replicated in Trinidad, Guyana and Belize.
Paul Mondesir, project officer (Infrastructure) with the EU, said the project was one of several initiatives being undertaken by the EU in the region.
“The importance placed on early warning systems and prevention from a disaster perspective can be seen from the increased funding that has been given by donor agencies, especially post Hurricane Ivan.
“The work project … is an ongoing joint venture between CARIFORUM and the EU that will help deal with natural disasters, primarily floods and hurricanes,” he explained.
Mondesir further disclosed that the project envisaged the construction, equipping and networking of four new digital, early warning stations to complete an existing network of nine stations in the Caribbean region, the Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT’s) and French-dependent territories.
In giving further insight into the project, Co-ordinating Director of the Caribbean Meteorological Organisation, Tyrone Sutherland, said the radars would facilitate continuous monitoring of weather systems as far away as 400 km in any direction.
Noting that the preparatory work for the four radars was “progressing well,” Sutherland said Trinidad’s was almost complete; Guyana’s was “well underway” and Belize’s and Barbados’ would be done “almost simultaneously”.
In terms of local personnel, he noted that training of staff from the Meteorological Office in Barbados would commence soon, with a number of technicians having already been trained in Germany.
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