Christine Afandi
9 August 2008
Nairobi — The Tanzania Meteorology Agency will spend $2 million to purchase a new weather radar to improve forecasting, monitor changes and impending disasters such as drought and floods.
The Director of Forecasting Services at the agency, Mohamed Matitu, said the acquisition of the radar has been necessitated by unpredictable weather patterns, that have affected the country's economy.
The problem is partly attributed to global warming.
Mr Mtitu said the country needed seven new radars but because of the costs involved, the government will first buy one and when funds become available, six more will be purchased.
"The agency needs the radars immediately. For instance, in case of an approaching storm, it takes time to receive satellite pictures, gauge frequency of wind, precipitation or magnitude of the storm.
With little or no time left to issue a warning, the storm could make a landing with disastrous consequence," he said, adding that this however does not mean that the country has been without radars for meteorological functions.
The Meteorology Agency is tasked with providing weather forecasts, climate change data and weather warnings for the safety of life and property.
Its data is used by various industries ranging from aviation, agriculture and food security to water resources, disaster management, health and construction industry.
It also organises and administers networks of surface and upper air stations necessary to capture accurate records of the weather and climatic conditions of the country.
Tanzania currently relies on satellite systems for collecting, interpreting and analysing data that is then passed on to various departments.
Whereas the satellites have been efficient and reliable, their only handicap is that it takes up to 30 minutes for the meteorology department to receive pictures and information about change in the climatic conditions in the atmosphere.
Radars are more efficient and precise as they cover a small and specific geographic area at a particular time as opposed to satellite systems that cover a wider area and whose forecasts are received at the weather station in Dar es Salaam every 30 minutes.
Last year, the government initiated the process of acquiring radars specifically for weather forecasting after it was realised that the country had a low capacity to pinpoint and manage natural hazards such as tropical cyclones, storms, earthquakes, and flood.
The new radar to be purchased this year will be located in Dar es Salaam, while the six to be purchased later will be installed in Kigoma, Mbeya, Mtwara, Dodoma, Mwanza and Kilimanjaro.
The agency had three radars at Kilimanjaro, Dar es Salaam and Mtwara serving the northeastern and southern highlands respectively under the East Africa Meteorology Department.
When the then East African Community collapsed in 1977, Tanzania could not maintain the three radars which eventually got worn out and stopped functioning after many years of use and no service.
To date meteorological department relies on satellite systems in addition to manual collection of data, analysis and interpretation at the various weather stations in the country.
Once the Meteorology Agency acquires all seven radars, it will be able to monitor the atmospheric weather changes countrywide through a central location at its new headquarters currently under construction in Dar es Salaam.
Other new weather stations are being set up in Pemba, Zanzibar and Manyara. The Mpanda station, whose construction has been completed will be officially opened later this year.
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