Saudi Arabia elected chair of Asia region of World Meteorological Organization
The 18th session, which was held virtually, was attended by representatives of Asian member states and relevant regional and international organizations specializing in meteorology and climate.
Dr. Ghulam was elected by acclamation, reflecting the Kingdom's esteemed position and pioneering role in advancing meteorological systems at the regional and international levels. The election also comes in recognition of Saudi Arabia's notable achievements in atmospheric monitoring, application of advanced technologies, and enhancement of climate services quality.
Dr. Ghulam emphasized the Kingdom's commitment to supporting approved regional initiatives, facilitating the exchange of technical expertise and knowledge, and enhancing cooperation mechanisms among member states. He noted that these efforts aim to improve meteorological and climate services, as well as to address urgent environmental challenges.
He stated that Saudi Arabia will launch comprehensive training and qualification programs for technical personnel, improve forecasting and monitoring infrastructure, and enable member states to benefit from successful experiences and national capabilities. Dr. Ghulam added that these initiatives are expected to have a positive impact on community safety and promote sustainable development throughout the region.
© Copyright 2022 The Saudi Gazette. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Dubai Eye
06-08-2025
- Dubai Eye
Monsoon peaks in south China, unleashing landslides, disease
Rescue crews raced on Wednesday to clear debris and flooded roads as southern China braced for more extreme rainfall and spreading infection after some of the worst downpours this century, as East Asian monsoon rains peak. Forecasters warned of more thunderstorms after the century's second-heaviest August rains pounded Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province, forcing its Baiyun airport, one of the world's busiest, to cancel 363 flights and delay 311. The day before, the skies above Hong Kong and the high-tech cities of China's Pearl River Delta turned livid and dumped the heaviest August rainfall since 1884 on the Asian financial centre. Rescue crews in Guangdong scrambled to open drains and pump water away from urban areas, state media said, as the intense rain set off mudslides and felled trees on highways, tearing away road surfaces to expose cabling and other infrastructure. Video images showed roads transformed into brown waterways, threatening to worsen a major outbreak of Chikungunya, fuelled by mosquitoes thriving in stagnant flood water, which had been on a downtrend before the latest rains. Guangdong had reported more than 7,000 of the virus infections earlier. China has suffered weeks of atmospheric chaos since July as it is battered by downpours heavier than usual batter with the East Asian monsoon stalling over its north and south. Weather experts link the shifting pattern to climate change, testing officials as flash floods displace thousands and threaten billions of dollars in economic losses. On Tuesday, Beijing allocated more than 1 billion yuan ($139 million) in disaster relief for Guangdong and the northern province of Hebei, as well as the capital, Beijing, and the northern region of Inner Mongolia, state news agency Xinhua said, including subsidies for damage to grain-growing areas. Extreme rainfall swept at least five people to their deaths in Guangdong over the weekend, triggering a large-scale search effort by more than 1,300 rescuers. Sixteen rivers across Guangdong threaten to breach their banks, with water levels at two sites reaching their highest since 2017 and 2018. The worst may be yet to come, with two to three typhoons expected to strike in August, emergency management authorities said on Tuesday. DISEASE OUTBREAK The city of Foshan west of Guangzhou has been the epicentre of the province's Chikungunya outbreak, while at least a dozen more have reported infections, which typically cause fever and severe joint pain, though deaths are rare. The next few weeks are especially daunting for disease prevention and control, say provincial authorities, after the flood season, worsened by typhoons and heavy rain, boosted mosquito activity. Spread by the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes, global infections of the disease number at least 240,000 this year. In a travel notice for Guangdong, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has urged "enhanced" precautions by visitors.
Dubai Eye
05-08-2025
- Dubai Eye
Hong Kong issues highest weather warning, as rains shut schools, hospitals
Hong Kong's weather bureau said its highest "black" rainstorm warning would remain in place until 11 a.m. on Tuesday, as heavy rains lashed the Asian financial hub, closing hospital wards, schools, and the jurisdiction's courts and register offices. The storms follow deadly flash floods in Southern China over the weekend, which left five dead in Guangdong province and prompted a large-scale search operation involving over 1,300 rescuers. "Persistent rainstorm will cause serious road flooding and traffic congestion. Members of the public are advised to take shelter in a safe place," the Hong Kong Observatory said in a bulletin on its website. The authority reported 9,837 lightning strikes over the city between 6 am (2200 GMT) and 6:59 am. Up to 60-90mm of rain is hitting Hong Kong and the nearby Chinese city of Guangzhou per hour, according to China's weather authority. Hong Kong typically receives an annual average of 2,220mm of rainfall, more than half of which usually falls from June through August. The Hong Kong Stock Exchange remains open, having changed its policy to continue trading whatever the weather late last year. Hong Kong's hospital authority announced that accident and emergency wards will remain open, but general outpatient clinics and geriatric and psychiatric day hospitals will close due to the extreme weather. While the judiciary said that courts, tribunals and register offices would open "as soon as practical within two hours after the 'black' rainstorm warning is cancelled," in a statement. The post office said that all its premises and delivery services would be suspended until the storm warning had passed. The city's airport has not reported any disruptions. Hong Kong Disneyland remains open, with limited operations.
Gulf Today
02-08-2025
- Gulf Today
Earthquakes, tsunamis pose growing threat to human safety and global economies: WMO
Dr Abdullah Ahmed Al Mandous, President of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), stressed that earthquakes and tsunamis remain among the deadliest natural disasters, warning that their growing impact poses a serious threat to both human life and economic stability. He called for enhanced international and national efforts to improve monitoring and early warning systems. Dr Al Mandous highlighted major seismic disasters witnessed in past decades, including the 1960 Chile earthquake, the 2004 Sumatra earthquake and tsunami that claimed over 200,000 lives, and the 2011 Fukushima disaster, which triggered nuclear consequences due to the tsunami. He noted that over the past 50 years, more than 140 earthquakes exceeding magnitude 8 have occurred, the majority of which generated tsunamis-resulting in over 250,000 deaths and more than US$100 billion in economic losses. He also pointed to the recent 8.8-magnitude earthquake off Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula, which triggered tsunamis several meters high. Early warning systems activated across various countries played a vital role in minimising the impact. This video grab from a handout footage released by Russia's Emergencies Ministry, shows emergency service specialists inspecting a damaged building following an earthquake. AFP Dr Al Mandous stated, "An alert cannot save lives if it doesn't arrive in time, or if there's no effective response on the ground.' He emphasised that early warning systems rely on international networks of seismic monitoring stations and ocean buoys that detect pressure changes deep beneath the sea. However, the effectiveness of such systems depends on fast data analysis, robust infrastructure, and community-level preparedness. In this context, Dr Al Mandous noted that the WMO places the "Early Warnings for All' initiative at the core of its mission. Launched by the United Nations, the initiative aims to ensure that everyone on the planet is protected by early warning systems by 2027. He said, "We are working closely with governments and global partners to make sure no region faces disaster without advance notice. Early warnings are a human right-not a luxury.' The United Arab Emirates is recognised as a regional leader in forecasting and early warning efforts, hosting several advanced research centers and initiatives that strengthen resilience across both regional and global communities. As part of its global mandate, the WMO also leads partnerships with UN agencies and research bodies to accelerate the deployment of early warning systems in island nations and developing countries-many of which are most vulnerable to earthquakes and tsunamis. Dr. Al Mandous concluded with a strong call to action, stating, "We need collective commitment. Governments must fast-track investment in resilient infrastructure, improve legislation, and expand data-sharing cooperation. We urge institutions to support research and technology, and individuals to learn safety procedures and raise awareness in their communities. Every second between an earthquake and a warning builds resilience-or loses it. Every step we take today means a better chance of survival tomorrow.' WAM
