Updated: 19-04-2023
Source: China Meteorological New Press
According to Dr. Chomparee Chompurat,Director-General of Thai Meteorological Department (TMD), TMD has established a natural disaster early warnings and emergency response action mechanism of "environmental monitoring, public participation, and government-leaded" to carry out early warnings work from multiple aspects.
In terms of environmental monitoring, TMD has conducted beneficial explorations in meteorological observation and forecasting. In the meteorological observation, it makes full use of high-tech means like meteorological satellites to carry out the "space-ground-air" three-dimensional monitoring. China's FengYun series meteorological satellites data has been widely used and played a significant role in tropical cyclone monitoring of Thailand. In terms of prediction, the mesoscale atmospheric numerical prediction model (NWP) WRF is used to conduct regional prediction based on downscaling technology, display observation data such as cloud pictures in numerical form, and release forecasting products of precipitation, temperature, wind, relative humidity and other factors. Based on prediction models and statistical analysis, climate prediction services will be carried out 14 months in advance, climate prediction products will be released in different seasons to guide agricultural production, and preventive tips will be issued to farmers in advance for possible floods, droughts, etc.
As regards public participation, the dissemination of early warnings is an important link. At present, TMD has established a disaster prevention chain covering the whole country, which can issue disaster warnings through multiple channels such as the internet, SMS, phone, radio, etc. To cope up with major weather processes, TMD will hold a special meeting 72 hours in advance, tracking daily changes in the actual situation, and closely monitoring weather development.
In terms of professional services, targeted meteorological services are provided to meet industry needs, such as providing navigation weather services for airports based on civil aviation operational needs, developing an automatic earthquake monitoring and early warnings system for earthquake monitoring needs, which can send out earthquake warnings in a timely manner through SMS, phone calls, and other means.
Practice has proven that in order to fully utilize the early warnings function, government departments need to strengthen unified management. Firstly, a disaster weather response plan should be prepared to ensure smooth information flow and collaboration among various departments. Secondly, it is necessary to ensure the consistency, timeliness, and accuracy of early warnings information dissemination, taking into account user usage scenarios, enhancing the relevance of early warnings push, and fully leveraging the effectiveness of early warnings. In the future, TMD will strengthen the application of artificial intelligence technology in early warnings, harness its advantages in big data analysis and processing, and improve the reliability and timeliness of early warnings systems.
Editor: Zhang Juan