Region 12 gets automated weather stations

Eight new weather stations were installed all over Region 12 as part of the Department of Science and Technology’s (DOST’s) efforts to improve the region’s weather monitoring efforts.

 

According to Mindanews, the installation of the four automated weather stations (AWS) and four automated rain gauges (ARG) started last year and was completed just last month. The AWS were installed at the city airport complex in General Santos City, People’s Palace compound in Cotabato City, Barangay Badyangon, Palimbang Town in Sultan Kudarat, and at the North Cotabato provincial capitol compound in Barangay Amas in Kidapawan City. The ARGs were installed in Isulan town, Sultan Kudarat, Carmen in North Cotabato, Kiamba in Sarangani, and at the city hall complex of Koronadal City in South Cotabato.

 

In her statement to Mindanews, Dr. Zenaida Hadji Raof Laidan, DOST-12 regional director, said that the installation of these weather trackers are in support of the national government’s initiative to help improve the capability of local governments in addressing weather-related concerns.

 

“The deployment of these modern weather tracking equipment would eliminate subjective weather forecasting. It would facilitate real-time monitoring of weather disturbances and eventually help keep our communities alert to possible calamities brought about by heavy

rains and typhoons,” Laidan said.

 

The AWS come equipped with sensors for measuring parameters such as wind speed and direction; air temperature; air humidity; air pressure; and rain volume, duration, and intensity. The ARGs are specialized rain gauges that automatically gather, record, and transmit information on the amount of rainfall in that area over a period of time. 

 

According to the statement released by DOST 12, the information gathered by these trackers will be sent wirelessly as an SMS or text message through a cellular network. Each tracker comes with a GSM Data Acquisition Terminal (GDAT), a technology was developed by the  DOST’s Advanced Science and Technology Institute (ASTI). The GDAT is a mini computer that controls the stations functions and data communications.

 

The weather trackers were installed in collaboration with the ASTI, DOST 12, and the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) as part of DOST’s nationwide project in improving the accuracy of weather forecasting by developing and producing hybrid weather , automated weather stations and other automated weather monitoring devices. — TJD, GMA News