Suresh Boodhoo : “Accurate climate data is vital”
Indradev Curpen
Senior Journalist with News On Sunday. Covers economics, finance, and business news. Has also worked for the national radio and television and other local publications. Holds a Diploma in Mass Communications. Has travelled widely.
By Indradev Curpen
Published on 18th April, 2008
Weather forecasting is no longer restricted to sunny or rainy days. It is more complex than one may imagine. The mission of the Met services is to help prevent loss of life, assure the protection of property, and also look at natural disasters and climatology in general through a new perspective.
“Formerly we only had tropical cyclones to look after. Today there are earthquakes and Tsunamis too. Whereas for a cyclone we have lead time to a maximum of one week, for Tsunamis it's only a matter of hours. The very concept of disaster mitigation has changed,” says Suresh Boodhoo.
The MMS is responding to Tsunamis in Mauritius, Rodrigues and the outer islands. A scheme is under preparation with the partnership of various stakeholders under the responsibility of the Prime Minister's Office.
“As this is a new domain, the need for capacity building of our professionals is vital; this we are achieving with the help of friendly countries like the United States and Japan and international organisations like UNESCO, World Meteorological Organisation, and International Strategy for Disaster Reduction(ISDR). We have obtained new instruments such as seismometer for monitoring earthquakes and Tsunamis. A second seismometer will soon be installed in Rodrigues. We have two Tide-Gauges, one in Mauritius and one in Rodrigues. Under the Clinton Initiative, Mauritius has benefited for the purchase of additional instruments to be installed in St Brandon and Agalega. We have sent four members of our staff abroad for training and a dozen have received an in-house training conducted by US experts,” he adds.
Global temperature
It's no secret that global temperature is rising continuously. There are noticeable variations in the trends of other parameters such as rainfall. An increase of one degree in temperature may mean a complete change in a crop variety; that climate-related diseases can occur earlier than expected and with graver intensity. That's why, Boodhoo says accurate climate data are vital for decision making. At the same time, appropriate planning strategy may become essential to ensure adequate water storage and supply under climate change.
“We are ensuring this accurate data collection, both on the ground with modern equipment and from space through satellites put at our disposal by friendly countries, among which the European Union,” Boodhoo assures.
The MMS plans to modernise access to climate information through a modern website, the installation of cameras in certain strategic parts of the island and relaying weather information to the website for public users.
“Port Louis can have a visual appreciation of the weather in Souillac. Additionally vegetable growers must have accurate information right in their fields on the weather. It is also planned to enable fishermen inside the lagoon and beyond the reefs to access to weather information right from their fishing boats either through SMS or special radio broadcasts. Even vehicle drivers, through modern technology can have access to weather news from any part of the island. In conformity with Government’s policy to increase tourists’ arrivals to two million by the year 2015, it is imperative that we plan to provide our visitors and all stakeholders of the tourism sector with detailed data,” Boodhoo says.
“The energy sector will definitely turn itself toward climate resources like wind, solar, waves and hydro power. This reliance on renewable energy is becoming more and more evident because of the increase in the price of fossilised fuel and because of the necessity of curbing emission of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
“It is also a fact that climate information can be equated in monetary terms. This is becoming so obvious that carbon is traded on the Stock Market, that Insurance companies are ready to purchase climate information and forecasts at high cost. Hence, the necessity for reliable information,” Boodhoo says.
The MMS is responding to Tsunamis in Mauritius, Rodrigues and the outer islands. A scheme is under preparation with the partnership of various stakeholders under the responsibility of the Prime Minister's Office.
“As this is a new domain, the need for capacity building of our professionals is vital; this we are achieving with the help of friendly countries like the United States and Japan and international organisations like UNESCO, World Meteorological Organisation, and International Strategy for Disaster Reduction(ISDR). We have obtained new instruments such as seismometer for monitoring earthquakes and Tsunamis. A second seismometer will soon be installed in Rodrigues. We have two Tide-Gauges, one in Mauritius and one in Rodrigues. Under the Clinton Initiative, Mauritius has benefited for the purchase of additional instruments to be installed in St Brandon and Agalega. We have sent four members of our staff abroad for training and a dozen have received an in-house training conducted by US experts,” he adds.
Global temperature
It's no secret that global temperature is rising continuously. There are noticeable variations in the trends of other parameters such as rainfall. An increase of one degree in temperature may mean a complete change in a crop variety; that climate-related diseases can occur earlier than expected and with graver intensity. That's why, Boodhoo says accurate climate data are vital for decision making. At the same time, appropriate planning strategy may become essential to ensure adequate water storage and supply under climate change.
“We are ensuring this accurate data collection, both on the ground with modern equipment and from space through satellites put at our disposal by friendly countries, among which the European Union,” Boodhoo assures.
The MMS plans to modernise access to climate information through a modern website, the installation of cameras in certain strategic parts of the island and relaying weather information to the website for public users.
“Port Louis can have a visual appreciation of the weather in Souillac. Additionally vegetable growers must have accurate information right in their fields on the weather. It is also planned to enable fishermen inside the lagoon and beyond the reefs to access to weather information right from their fishing boats either through SMS or special radio broadcasts. Even vehicle drivers, through modern technology can have access to weather news from any part of the island. In conformity with Government’s policy to increase tourists’ arrivals to two million by the year 2015, it is imperative that we plan to provide our visitors and all stakeholders of the tourism sector with detailed data,” Boodhoo says.
“The energy sector will definitely turn itself toward climate resources like wind, solar, waves and hydro power. This reliance on renewable energy is becoming more and more evident because of the increase in the price of fossilised fuel and because of the necessity of curbing emission of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
“It is also a fact that climate information can be equated in monetary terms. This is becoming so obvious that carbon is traded on the Stock Market, that Insurance companies are ready to purchase climate information and forecasts at high cost. Hence, the necessity for reliable information,” Boodhoo says.