New weather radars set to be rolled out

New weather radars set to be rolled out

By Than Naing Soe   |   Sunday, 30 March 2014

Three sophisticated weather radars will be installed in Myanmar within the next three years with assistance from the Japanese government, according to an official with the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology in Nay Pyi Taw.

There will be 30 automatic weather measurement instruments by each radar. The first radar will be installed in Kyaukpyu's Min Pyin village in Rakhine State. The second radar will be installed in Yangon's Kabar Aye meteorological office. The third will be installed in Mandalay's Chan Mya Tharsi township office compound.

U Chit Kyaw, director general of the department said the total cost of the project is US$38.7 million.

"We have now signed an MoU, and the bank account has been opened," U Chit Kyaw said.

"When I studied in Japan in 1986, I told the Japanese government to give us a weather radar. Although they had a plan to give us radar, we didn't get it. After Nargis, a Japan commission came to Myanmar, and asked us how many radars we need. We told them two to use in the Yangon office and to replace the broken one in Kyaukpyu township office. Later, we told them three because we need to install one in Mandalay because we want to forecast the floods according to hydrology."

When the installation process in Kyaukpyu is halfway finished, he said work will begin to install the second radar in Yangon. The same process will be followed for the final installation in Mandalay. The project is expected to be completed in 2017, U Chit Kyaw said.

Since Mandalay is far from the typical area where storms strike, the radar in Mandalay will be able to issue flood warnings in advance when heavy rains suddenly occur.

"When it floods because of heavy rain, the bridges are destroyed, the soil eroded and the railway lines are moved. The damage caused by such kind of flooding is bigger than with normal floods. We will detect the intensity of rain to be able to forecast the floods," U Chit Kyaw said.

The radar in Mandalay will have a range from Myitkyina in Kachin State to Taungoo in Bago Region. The department will be able to issue sudden flood warnings when they detect various levels of rain. They will also be able warn the public about the likelihood of flooding, and where strong rains are expected to fall, he said.

After Cyclone Nargis struck in 2008, the UNDP and World Meterology Organization recommended Myanmar purchase new radars to detect storms.

To properly install the radar, Japan will provide technical assistance in two areas: meteorological and engineering. Staff have been appointed to take part in the process in Kyauk Phyu, Yangon and Mandalay. They will be sent abroad for job training.

"Japanese engineers will also participate [in the installation process] with Myanmar engineers in installing the radars so they can know what is to be installed where," U Chit Kyaw said.

Myanmar installed its first radar in 1979 in Min Pyin village in Kyaukpyu Township, for K5.7 million. The cost was shared by the World Meteorological Organization. The technology was considered largely outdated by 1997.

Translation by Thiri Min Htun

Source: http://www.news.myanmaronlinecentre.com/2014/04/01/new-weather-radars-set-to-be-rolled-out/