Weather used to be the most mundane thing that can be a topic of a discussion. Not anymore. The effects of climate change that we all experience have made us aware how important it is to talk about the weather and to have access to information about the weather. Typhoons Frank and Ondoy have taught us the value of real-time weather information. Fortunately, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is making it possible for us to have access to real-time weather in Bacolod and in different locations in the country.
Last March 10, 2011, DOST turned over an Automated Weather Station (AWS) and Automatic Rain Gauges (ARG) to recipient barangays in Bacolod City. Barangay Felisa received an AWS while Barangays Alangilan, Estefania and Tangub received ARGs. This is part of the two-year PREDICT Project , which stands for Philippine Real-Time Environment Data Acquisition and Interpretation for Climate-Related Tragedy Prevention and Mitigation. PREDICT is a joint project of DOST agencies Advanced Science and Technology Institute (ASTI) and the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
Under PREDICT Project, 80 AWS and 100 rain gauges which will be installed in strategic locations in the country. These are meant to complement the existing observation capability of PAGASA. The different remote facilities will gather and transmit observation data to a central server through the cellular network. These data will help prevent and mitigate weather-related disaster. The data can likewise be used by local farmers to increase their crop productivity.
The data can be accessed through the internet by visiting the website of PREDICT. The data for the different sites in Bacolod as well as from other areas in the Philippines already installed with AWS and rain gauges are already available through the website. These are not weather forecasts but actual data gathered by the equipment. These data are updated every 15 minutes so it’s the closest you can get to real-time information which you can access anytime, anywhere, as long as you have an internet connection.
The AWS provide data on wind speed, air pressure, air temperature, air humidity, rain amount, rain duration and rain intensity. The rain gauge on the other hand can provide data on the rain amount. The other data that can be viewed, aside from those previously mentioned, are data specific on the status of the equipment.
Please watch this short tutorial I prepared to give you an idea how to view the data. Please share this with your friends even those abroad so that they may also access the real-time weather in Bacolod in the different locations in the Philippines.
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