https://www.engineeringnews.co.za

Africa to receive early-warning weather systems

1st April 2016

By: Donna Slater

Features Deputy Editor and Chief Photographer

  

Font size: - +

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has, in a tender procedure, selected private weather service provider Ubimet to provide equipment and services for meteorological and hydrological early-warning systems that will be supplied to national weather services in developing countries, with a focus on Africa.

Under the long-term agreement with the UN’s global development network, Ubimet will support countries in establishing and further developing weather information systems and services.

The provider was selected to supply particularly lightning detection and weather station networks, short-term forecast systems for thunderstorms and weather forecast services, as well as maintenance, training and software.

The UNDP is active in more than 170 countries to integrate issues of climate, disaster risk and energy at national level. It focuses on building resilience and ensuring that development remains risk informed and sustainable.

A changing climate and exposure to disaster risk collectively present a challenge, especially for developing countries, with natural hazards significantly influencing agriculture, health, energy and water resources.

Every year, from 2000 to 2012, more than 200-million people, most of them in developing countries, were affected by natural disasters – especially floods and droughts – according to the ‘UNDP Human Development Report 2014’.

A recent study by the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction also highlighted that weather and climate are major drivers of disaster risk, showing that 90% of major disasters have been caused by floods, storms, heatwaves, droughts, and other weather-related events over the past 20 years.

“Precise weather information plays a key role in reducing vulnerability to natural hazards and improving emergency management,” says Ubimet cofounder Dr Michael Fassnauer, adding that Ubimet is honoured to be a UN partner in creating sustainable development worldwide.

Edited by Martin Zhuwakinyu
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

Comments

Showroom

Booyco Electronics
Booyco Electronics

Booyco Electronics, South African pioneer of Proximity Detection Systems, offers safety solutions for underground and surface mining, quarrying,...

VISIT SHOWROOM 
Werner South Africa Pumps & Equipment (PTY) LTD
Werner South Africa Pumps & Equipment (PTY) LTD

For over 30 years, Werner South Africa Pumps & Equipment (PTY) LTD has been designing, manufacturing, supplying and maintaining specialist...

VISIT SHOWROOM 

Latest Multimedia

sponsored by

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION







sq:0.116 0.171s - 166pq - 2rq
Subscribe Now