System to share weather forecast know-how from Korea

The Korea International Co-operation Agency (KOICA) has completed the establishment of a data receiving and analysis system which shares weather forecast technology with Sri Lanka, according to a press release issued by KOICA. The release states as follows:

The project for the establishment of COMS (Communications, Ocean and Meteorological Satellite) Data Receiving/Analysis System provided by KOICA has been completed, while a handing over ceremony for the installed COMS system and facilities was held at the Department of Meteorology on April 5, 2012.

At the ceremony attendees included Disaster Management Minister Mahinda Amaraweera, Ministerial Secretary S. M. Mohamed, and other officials from the ministry on behalf of Sri Lanka. Also, there were the Ambassador of the Korean Republic Choi Jong-Moon, and the Korea Meteorological Administrator Cho Seok Joon, the KOICA Resident Representative Cho Sang Woo and other engineers from Samsung SDS, on behalf of the Republic of Korea.

The Korean Government has designated its strategy of “Low Carbon, Green Growth” as a national vision and accordingly, has initiated a national 5-year plan for Green Growth. Under this plan, the proportion of Green ODA (Official Development Assistance) will be increased to 30% by 2020.

To support the Green ODA expansion plans KOICA has initiated the East Asia Climate Partnership (EACP) to share with developing countries, through ODA projects, Korea’s expertise and technology from green growth sectors such as water, low carbon renewable energy, environmental sustainability and other sectors that touch climate change issues.

Under KOICA’s EACP, this 2 million US dollar scale COMS project was commenced in March, 2011 as a response to the request by the Sri Lanka government to upgrade its forecasting system in order to mitigate damage caused by unexpected natural disasters, such as landslides, floods and tsunami, which have devastated the country in the recent past. This COMS project was designed to increase the capacity building of Sri Lanka metrological officials and engineers by establishing the latest digitalized satellite system, including satellite receiving antenna, computerized monitoring and analysis system, produced by Samsung SDS, and transferring Korea’s weather forecasting technologies and expertise through the dispatch of Korean experts and through providing training in Korea, by KMI, for DoM personnel.

This latest Korean weather forecasting technology contributes to minimizing the loss to human life and any damage caused by weather-related natural disasters, while also increasing the productivity of industries, such as aviation, agriculture and fishing, through accurate meteorological data. In addition, it will also contribute to consolidate partnerships and cooperation in the area of meteorology between Korean and Sri Lanka.