Noting that climate change and the increasing frequency of drastic weather are raising the demand for accurate weather forecasts, Premier Chang San-cheng today enjoined the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) to assist the Central Weather Bureau (CWB) in improving relevant technology and allocating the necessary funding.
The premier made these statements at today's Cabinet meeting after an MOTC briefing on the accomplishments of projects to enhance weather forecasts and earthquake predictions.
The Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) is expected to complete the Public Warning System (PWS) platform for disaster warning announcements by the end of this coming June. If the Cell Broadcast Service and PWS warning platforms can go online in July, it will greatly benefit the public, the premier remarked. He thus directed the MOST to supervise the National Science and Technology Center for Disaster Reduction to ensure their completion on schedule.
The CWB has formulated an installation plan to monitor and forecast disastrous weather, the MOTC stated. In each of the nation's 368 townships and districts it will establish a weather station to provide forecast services, make typhoon path and rain volume predictions more accurate, and supply this information to the Central Emergency Operation Center for important decision-making. Moreover, it will further improve real-time forecasting and disastrous-weather warning technologies, link up with government agencies for pre-disaster evacuations, and effectively integrate disaster-prevention measures.
The bureau is also implementing a plan to enhance earthquake and tsunami predictions. The plan includes building 70 high-quality borehole seismic stations as well as expanding construction of the Marine Cable Hosted Observatory, an earthquake and tsunami monitoring system that can warn of an incoming tsunami 20 minutes in advance.
In addition, the CWB is continuing to install real-time strong-earthquake warning software in public elementary and junior high schools, disaster prevention and relief units, and government agencies. To date four manufacturers have already produced earthquake-warning apps.
Furthermore, the bureau will work to develop high-accuracy numerical-data forecasting products to better predict heavy rainfall in the short and extended term as well as enhance earthquake and tsunami monitoring and notification capabilities, the MOTC pointed out. The CWB will also continue to make good use of social networks and new media to provide diverse forecasting services and increase citizens' knowledge of weather and earthquakes so as to improve their capability to respond to natural disasters.