As the greater part of Luzon, particularly Metro Manila, is being tormented with torrential rainfall for the past days, I worry for those who are displaced due to flooding. Reports on the continuing aftermath is all over TV news for the last couple days now. At the same time, I also worry for my apartment - just a few more inches to the flood level outside the gate will bring the water inside my room. I cant help tune in to radio stations for updates as well as check the PAGASA's website to check their changes in the forecast.
I found that there are some of interesting new stuffs from PAGASA/DOST website. The Project NOAH is one and it's gives interesting info, like flood maps. This page can be really helpful for information. Someone can use it to check how flooded a particular area can be based from its historical records. I believe that these initiatives came from the hard lessons of Typhoon Ondoy in 2009.
Another thing I noticed is PAGASA has also improved the info they disseminate to the public (or perhaps they improved forecasting models they use). Anyone can remember that before Typhoon Ondoy, the usual weather report we hear from the agency is the usual - manaka-nakang pag-ulan at pagkidlat. But now we can rely on better info because they now give more details like amount and time of rainfall to expect and they now issue the public color coded warnings of rainfall volume.
I was also wondering about the PAGASA satellite images showing overview of the monsoons. I am under the impression that our government doesn't own a satellite. I searched around where this images are from. We get them from the foreign geostationary satellites, mostly from the Japanese MTSAT-EIR Satellite.
In fact the only Philippines territory in space was one communications satellite named Agila 2. Although we have lost lost ownership of this satellite since 2008.
Agila 2 was launched into orbit in August 20, 1997 and is expected to have a mission lifetime of 15 years. That is this coming August 20. After this expiration date, we can expect that our Agila 2, will become bits and one of space junk cluttering in out planets inner orbit.
As we can say goodbye to our only and former satellite, we should also ask if we need a replacement? I say YES. It will helpful in a lot of ways and not only for weather forecasting but also for:
1. For national security and defense. Given prevailing threat from bullying China, the Philippines should control its own reconnaissance(like in Panatag Shoal) and advanced communications.
2. For reliable automated election results come next year.
3. For the growing cellphone and internet appetite of the Filipinos.
4. For economic advancement. Our neighboring countries like Indonesia has nine satellites; Malaysia has four; Singapore, nine; and Thailand, five. Even Vietnam now controls and profitably operates its own satellite and will launch a second this year.
And while our government alone will have difficulty putting this in the priority list, I think that giant local companies (PLDT, ABSCBN, GMA,Globe and Smart telecoms etc) can help launch a new one and not only to gain for their own purpose but as well a sense a patriotism for the country.
I found that there are some of interesting new stuffs from PAGASA/DOST website. The Project NOAH is one and it's gives interesting info, like flood maps. This page can be really helpful for information. Someone can use it to check how flooded a particular area can be based from its historical records. I believe that these initiatives came from the hard lessons of Typhoon Ondoy in 2009.
Another thing I noticed is PAGASA has also improved the info they disseminate to the public (or perhaps they improved forecasting models they use). Anyone can remember that before Typhoon Ondoy, the usual weather report we hear from the agency is the usual - manaka-nakang pag-ulan at pagkidlat. But now we can rely on better info because they now give more details like amount and time of rainfall to expect and they now issue the public color coded warnings of rainfall volume.
I was also wondering about the PAGASA satellite images showing overview of the monsoons. I am under the impression that our government doesn't own a satellite. I searched around where this images are from. We get them from the foreign geostationary satellites, mostly from the Japanese MTSAT-EIR Satellite.
In fact the only Philippines territory in space was one communications satellite named Agila 2. Although we have lost lost ownership of this satellite since 2008.
Agila 2 was launched into orbit in August 20, 1997 and is expected to have a mission lifetime of 15 years. That is this coming August 20. After this expiration date, we can expect that our Agila 2, will become bits and one of space junk cluttering in out planets inner orbit.
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| Agiila 2 |
1. For national security and defense. Given prevailing threat from bullying China, the Philippines should control its own reconnaissance(like in Panatag Shoal) and advanced communications.
2. For reliable automated election results come next year.
3. For the growing cellphone and internet appetite of the Filipinos.
4. For economic advancement. Our neighboring countries like Indonesia has nine satellites; Malaysia has four; Singapore, nine; and Thailand, five. Even Vietnam now controls and profitably operates its own satellite and will launch a second this year.
And while our government alone will have difficulty putting this in the priority list, I think that giant local companies (PLDT, ABSCBN, GMA,Globe and Smart telecoms etc) can help launch a new one and not only to gain for their own purpose but as well a sense a patriotism for the country.
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