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DOST sets up 40 lightning-detecting automated weather stations for 'nowcast' forecasts

Philippines | National

DOST sets up 40 lightning-detecting automated weather stations for 'nowcast' forecasts

By Charissa Luci-Atienza

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has set up a total of 40 lightning-detecting automated weather stations (AWS) all over Metro Manila and in select regional DOST-Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) Observation and Weather Stations.

This was disclosed by DOST Secretary Fortunato “Boy” T. de la Peña during his weekly report Friday, March 12.

He said the AWS sought to "provide research data to determine the relationship of lightning strikes and torrential rainfall to put together a forecast method to predict the weather at a shorter time period.”

"The lightning detection AWS called P-POTEKA and its variation V-POTEKA were installed under the project “Understanding Lightning and Thunderstorms for Extreme Weather Monitoring and Information Sharing” (ULAT),” said the DOST chief.

The project is implemented by the DOST-Advanced Science and Technology (DOST-ASTI) with co-implementing partners from the DOST-Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (DOST-PAGASA) and UP-Institute of Environment Science and Meteorology (UP-IESM).

In 2019, the DOST-ASTI said it was targeting to install 50 P-POTEKA AWS with lightning detection sensors in Metro Manila and 10 VLF-POTEKA AWS in select areas at DOST-PAGASA Synoptic Stations nationwide.

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