China Tuesday launched a free meteorological data website aiming
to improve its on-line meteorology information sharing service.
The website, operated by the China Meteorological
Administration, is part of a scientific data sharing project
initiated by the Ministry of Science and Technology.
The website provides data service on ground and upper air
meteorological conditions, solar radiation, meteorological
satellites and scientific experiments.
The free service is available to both research organizations and
individuals who register at http://data.cma.gov.cn.
Dr. Zheng Guoguang, deputy director of the China Meteorological
Administration, said that meteorological data is not only a
foundation for research of the climate system, but also a necessity
for scientific decisions on economic and social development,
national defense, environmental protection and ecological
development.
It is also indispensable in people's everyday life, Zheng
said.
Teng Mianzhen, an official with the Ministry of Science and
Technology, said that the website is expected to become an
authoritative source of meteorological information and data.
Currently, major data providers for the website include the
Meteorological Information Center, the National Satellite
Meteorological Center, the Chinese Academy of Meteorological
Science and observatories in the Tibet Autonomous Region and
provinces of Hubei, Gansu, Heilongjiang and Jiangsu.
More meteorological research organizations will be incorporated
into the network to provide information and data for the free
service, Teng said.
Earlier in July, the China Meteorological Administration set up
a website, www.spaceweather.gov.cn,
providing free services in space weather monitoring and warning to
the public.
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(Xinhua News Agency August 18, 2004)