Refined meteorological services provided for the 14th National Games

On September 15, the opening ceremony of 14th National Games was rounded out in Xi'an Olympic Center Stadium. China Meteorological Administration (CMA) has made full-fledged deployment and pooled together the strength of meteorological departments to provide all-out services.

CMA has given high priority to the relevant service and made plans in advance.

During the meteorological support headquarters Photoed by Zhuang Baiyu

After the weather consultation meeting at 5:00 a.m. on September 15, when the opening ceremony was to be held, forecasters were making the featured report for the event. Credits: Shaanxi Provincial Meteorological Service

Meteorological departments in Shaanxi strenuous endeavors to provide refined services

Shaanxi provincial climate center has developed forecasting technology of Autumn Rain in West China and optimized the algorithm grid point climate forecasting system prior to the event. It has also consulted with Beijing Climate Center (BCC) and sought long-term guidance on this technology. In the mid-August, the Shaanxi provincial climate centre has made predictions on the onset date and combined intensity of Autumn Rain in West China during the weather consultation meeting on the event. It has provided accurate projection for an insight into the climate background during this event.

At 6:00 p.m. on September 15, Liu Feng, staff from the on-site meteorological support team in the mobile meteorological observatory was maintaining portable 6-factor meteorological observatory. 

Shaanxi provincial meteorological centre has also updated the latest version of the APP for the event. This is the 24th major upgrade of the APP. The R&D has harnessed new technologies like AI, big data analysis, ASR, and machine learning. This APP has enhanced its functions to better serve relevant demands.

On September 13, the service team was conducting meteorological service in the mobile meteorological observatory in Xi'an Olympic Center Stadium. 

On September 24, a new round of heavy rain process affected most portions of Shaanxi. According to the hourly prediction of the golf course during the event, after 11:00 a.m. the rain will diminish. The slated contest at 9:00 a.m. was put off. And at 11:45, the contest was officially kicked off. Road cycling was also affected by the rain. The track route and contest date were rearranged. On September 25, the competition committee for this event issue the contest rearrangement according to the meteorological prediction.

Joint coordination to better serve the event

Many meteorological technological facilities have made debuts during the event. Fengyun meteorological satellites have carried out rapid scan of the stadium. Smart grid point prediction and modernized forecasting facilities like Tianqing and Tianyan have provided strong scientific support. Over 80 sets of new type modernized observation facilities have been widely applied. They have realized the deep integration of ground, space and sky integrated multi-source observation. They also have rolled out refined minute-scale precipitation prediction, sand temperature, water temperature, and other featured forecasting products.

Staff from Weinan meteorological department was conducting on-site observation in beach volleyball venue. 

Newly established sets of observation facilities of Shaanxi meteorological departments are under operating non-stop in 13 venues. These facilities, together with ground reception systems of Fengyun-3 and Fengyun-4 meteorological satellites, upper air sounding radars, boundary layer wind profile, have constituted the space-air-ground integrated meteorological observation network. Furthermore, the phased array radar 20 km from the stadium has shortened the time of data acquisition from 10 minutes to 1 minutes, and refined to 50 meters. It has realized the rapid capture of medium and small scale weather processes.

Gao Xuejiao, was providing meteorological service in the basketball venue. 

Moreover, information-based resource pool forged by Shaanxi meteorological departments have developed key technologies like refined grid point prediction and high impact weather indicators. They have also set up regional numerical weather prediction (NWP) model in Shaanxi, and integrated forecasting and early warning system for the event. All these have strongly supported the transmission of all manner of data and products to relevant recipients, and the science-based forecasting services.

Hu Jiang, staff from the venue service center was using portable 5-factor observatory to conduct on-site service for the torch relay. 

Other meteorological departments have also played a part. Experts from institutions like National Meteorological Centre (NMC), National Satellite Meteorological Center (NSMC), and National Meteorological Information Center (NMIC) have come to help prediction team. Meteorological departments from places like Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Guangdong, and Hubei have shared their experience in this field. (Oct.7)

Editor: Liu Shuqiao