Seychelles’ met services take part in regional weather study |06 March 2015

More precise weather forecasts expected

More precise local weather forecasts are expected in the future as the National Meteorological Services (NMS) take part in a regional research study of weather conditions in the Indian Ocean.  

Other countries of the region like Sri Lanka and Singapore are also taking part in the research study being conducted in collaboration with the Notre Dame University in the United States and local NGO Better Life Foundation.

The research involves the launch of weather balloons twice a day (9.15am and 4.00pm local time) and a number of other measurements and observations  of the weather using very sophisticated equipment (i.e. lidar, microwave radiometer, ceilometers/x-met system, sky camera…etc). These have all been deployed here for the purpose from the US.

The research got underway last week with the launch of the weather balloons at the NMS station at the Seychelles International Airport. It was carried out in the presence of the head of the project Dr Harindra Fernando from the University of Notre Dame, key met officers and forecasters.

An agreement valid until 2017 which formalises the research and collaboration with the US university was signed on Wednesday this week  by the principal secretary for  Climate Change and Energy Wills Agricole; Laura S. Leo, research assistant and professor at the Notre Dame University; and Selma Francis, a representative of Better Life Foundation.

The signing took place at Mr Agricole’s office at the Botanical Gardens in the presence of key meteorological services personnel and forecasters.

Speaking after signing the agreement Mr Agricole said the information gathered on the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) -- the major fluctuation in tropical weather on weekly to monthly timescales -- by the experts from the US university will be very beneficial for local forecasters to better predict and give more precise weather forecasts.

“Madden-Julian Oscillation is very important in the calculations to predict the type of weather forecasts for instance heavy rain, drought … we know about the MJO but we lacked important data required to better understand how the MJO can help with forecasts,” Mr Agricole said.

He welcomed the opportunity for the research which he said is also a great opportunity for local forecasters to learn more and upgrade their skills.

Dr Leo and research assistant Patrick Conry also from Notre Dame University pointed out that the region is very active with a lot of meteorological activities.

“Seychelles is the point of origin of all these activities and it is therefore really crucial to understand how the MJO evolves and develops,” Dr Leo said.
The study will also help the US university as well and a local forecaster will also take part in the analysis of the findings of the research study.
Mr Agricole is calling on local forecasters to seize this great opportunity to improve their forecasting skills so as to give the public more precise information with regard to weather forecasts.