18th July, 2016 Australian High Commission, His Excellency Hon. Mr Andrew Ford officially commissioned the Tupou College Weather Station training centre on the 8th July 2016. Present in this occasion was Mr. ‘Ofa Fa’anunu Director of Meteorological Services attended on behalf of the CEO of MEIDECC, the Principal of the School, Rev. ‘Alifieleti ‘Atiola and its Staff and Members of the Tupou College ex-students of 1990-1995 also known as the Awesome Blues who orchestrated this projected.
The 10 by 10 square meter weather station data collected span a range of atmospheric variables such as temperature, maximum and minimum temperatures, dew points, relativity humidity, pressures, rainfall, wind speed and wind direction. There is manual and digital components to the station with digital data are transmitted from the station to the Data Collected Centre which is about 200m away from the station.
At a cost of approximately more than T$10,000 for instruments, fence and installation all borne in partnership between DFAT of the Australian Government, Meteorological Department of the Ministry of MEIDECC and the Awesome Blues.
Officially commissioning the station Hon. Mr Andrew Ford said “the training centre that we are commissioning today is very important not only for preparing students who wish to pursue a career in Meteorology but also for all students to learn to use basic weather services to plan their agriculture and their fishing”
The Director of the Tonga Meteorological Service , ‘Ofa Fa’anunu said the Meteorological Service would train the staff and students responsible for the weather station how to carry out the observations, record the data and transmitting them to Fua’amotu. He acknowledged that Tupou College is the first school in Tonga to work in partnership with the Tonga Meteorological Service and both may receive mutual benefits in this undertaking and above all the benefits it gives to all of Tonga. The
The school Principal Rev. Alifeleti ‘Atiola was upbeat with the development and saying staff and students would be part of the training undertaken to ensure they have the skills and knowledge to maintain the station. He was excited with the revival to this day the marvellous work of weather data collection which started by the founder of the school, Dr. Eagan Moulton with his students in 1874.
His Excellency, Principal, Deputy Principal and Director of Met inside the weather station.
ENDS
For further information please contact the Meteorology Department on 35355 or metstaff@met.gov.to. More information is also available at www.met.gov.to
