By Alex Villafania
INQUIRER.net
THE PHILIPPINE Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has refurbished its upper air station in Legazpi City that will cover the Bicol region.
The refurbishment is part of PAGASA’s efforts to complement the three other upper air stations in Laoag, Tanay and Cebu.
Upper air stations are responsible for monitoring and forecasting in real time the movement of thunderstorms, rainfall, flashfloods and ash fall in specific regions. These facilities send weather balloons with attached wind speed and temperature measuring equipment.
The Legazpi upper air station was damaged during typhoon “Reming” in 2006. While the station did operate afterwards, some of its equipment could not be fully utilized.
In a press conference, Science Secretary Estrella Alabastro said the cost of rebuilding and upgrading the equipment of the Legazpi station would amount to P18 million, at least P11 million of which will be used just for the weather balloons.
In a day, an upper air station sends out at least two disposable weather balloons, costing between P26,000 to P30,000. The number of daily balloon releases could be as high as three during inclement weather.
Science Undersecretary Graciano Yumul noted that the upper air stations, particularly in the Bicol region, will be complemented by additional seaborne meteorological buoys and wind sheer equipment.
He also noted that PAGASA will be putting up several Doppler radars, which are more accurate than regular radars in monitoring the specific movement of storms affecting the country.
Alabastro said that part of their upgrading plans for PAGASA is adding more weather forecast professionals in the Philippines, deployed in different regions in the country, particularly those that are frequented by storms.
