Tonga is to receive a Himawari-8 Satellite Receiver through the assistance of JMA Featured
The training team assembles a Himawari reception dish as a demonstration at Oriental Electronic Inc., Kyoto, Japan
15 September, 2016. Tonga is amongst a few countries in the world to receive a Himawari-8 Satellite Receiver through the assistance of the Japanese Meteorological Administration (JMA) through the Volunteer Cooperation Program (VCP) of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
High and Low resolution meteorological data can be displayed on a computer using special software for processing and visualization useful for weather forecasting.
The equipment is expected to be installed towards the end of the year at the Fua’amotu Weather Forecasting Centre by the Oriental Electronics Inc. of Japan, who are also the manufacturers of the equipment.
This week (12-16 September 2016) the company is hosting at its premises in Kyoto, Japan a factory acceptance test of the system and factory training of meteorological staff from Tonga, Kiribati, Mongolia and Nepal on how to install and operate the system as well as the application software for data processing and visualization.
Attending this factory test and training from the Tonga Meteorological Service is Technical Officer, ‘Enisi Maea and Chief Quality Officer, Mr. Moleni Tu’uholoaki. The cost of their travel and other expenses is fully funded by the Government of Japan through WMO VCP Program.
Director of the Meteorological Department of MEIDECC said “Earlier this month the CEO of MEIDECC, Mr. Paula Ma’u had signed a Cooperation MOU between MEIDECC and the WMO for the installation of this equipment which we are all very excited about.”
“This assistance is very timely for Tonga at this point in time as we hope to have this specialized equipment installed and up and running at Fua’amotu before the start of the 2016-17 Tropical Cyclone Season. Having this new equipment will enable us in the Forecasting Centre to receive necessary information for weather forecasting directly from the satellite and not from the internet.”
“Usually during Tropical Cyclone events, when internet is unreliable we are hard pressed at times to receive information for generating of Tonga’s warnings. We are hopeful that this equipment will not only fix that problem but also help with more regular updates of warnings through the receipt of more frequent satellite imagery”.
Also attending training this week on the Himawari-8 applications for Weather Forecasting at the Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre (RSMC) in Nadi are Forecasters, Mr. Laitia Fifita and ‘Aisea ‘Akau’ola funded by JICA.
All of Tonga’s trainees on the Himawari System are expected back in the country in the weekend.
