Download Hydromet - The Mission of The National Meteorological Service

Hydromet - The Mission of The National Meteorological Service
The National Meteorological Service of Belize is the leading governmental authority on weather
and climate. It provides meteorological and climate-based products and services to the Belizean
public through systematic and accurate monitoring and data collection, reliable data analyses
and timely dissemination of user-friendly information on regular and emergency events and
processes. This is undertaken in order to contribute to the safety and well-being of the people of
Belize and the sustainable development of the nation.
To fulfil this mission, the Department maintains a network of meteorological observing stations,
a Doppler radar, an upper air observing station The Weather Forecasting section of the Service
is equipped with telecommunication equipment, data analysis and display workstations and
satellite receiving equipment.
The National Meteorological Service is responsible for providing aviation weather information
and forecasts, and specialized weather forecasts for agriculture, forestry, marine, military, and
tourism. It also provides public weather forecasts for the media, which then distributes via
newspapers, radio and television. Forecasts are also distributed by the Meteorological Office by
facsimile, e-mail, the Department’s website and recorded telephone messages.
The Chief Meteorologist serves on the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO)
and provides advice on hurricanes, floods and other forms of severe weather conditions, which
could provoke a national emergency. All phases of the National Hurricane Emergency Plan are
declared by NEMO, on the advice of the Chief Meteorologist.
The National Meteorological Service is the National Focal Point for Belize on the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The IPCC is a scientific body whose function is to
review the most recent scientific, technical and socio-economic information produced worldwide
relevant to the understandng of climate change.
The Service has representation on several national committees including the National
Environmental Appraisal Committee (NEAC) which reviews Environmental Impact Assessments
(EIAs). The Service also has prepresntation on the Belize National Climate Change
Committee.
Belize is a member of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) particularly the Regional
Association IV of WMO. The Chief meteorologist serves as Permanent Representative of Belize
with the WMO. Through the National Meteorological Service Belize is also a member of the
Caribbean Meteorological Organization (CMO) and the Comité Regional de Recursos
Hidráulicos (CRRH) an arm of la Sistema de la Integracion de Centroamerica (SICA).
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Hydromet - The Mission of The National Meteorological Service
The Vision of the National Meteorological Service
The National Meteorological Service of Belize will continue to be the the national authority which
provides meteorological and climate-based products and services in order to protect life and
property, contribute to the achievement of social, economic and physical well-being of the
people of Belize.
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