THE Fiji Meteorological and Hydrological Services is working with the World Meteorological Organisation to improve weather services and provide capacity training to develop understanding of changing weather patterns within the region.
Minister for Disaster Management and Meteorological Services Jone Usamate said this would include improving the understanding on El Nino and its links to climate variations in the country.
“This is to enable seasonal and longer-term climate prediction to be made since the late 1990s,” Mr Usamate said in his address at the World Meteorological Day event organised in Levuka last Friday.
“Today, climatologists can provide useful and accurate climate predictions, particularly for the coming season.
“Not only that, historical climate information can be used in a wide variety of ways, such as risk analysis, structural engineering, planning, development of policies and decision making.”
Mr Usamate said climatologists were now capable of plotting possible future tropical cyclone tracks.
“In this context, Fiji Meteorological and Hydrological Services provide tropical cyclone guidance for the upcoming cyclone season (November to April) in October of each year.”
Government, he said had invested more than $2million to upgrade conventional radars at Nadi, Nausori and Labasa airports to a more modern Doppler technology system.
“Finally, let me assure you all that Government, through the Fiji Meteorological and Hydrological Services, is committed to the people of Fiji for providing services aimed at preventing loss of lives and reduce damage to properties caused by disasters and other catastrophic events related to weather, climate and water. “
