Monday, 16 February 2009

MEDIA RELEASE

Broome gets new weather office and radar

The Kimberley has a new state-of-the-art weather office and radar.

The facilities were launched today (Monday 16 February) at Broome airport by the Bureau’s acting Deputy Director, Research and Systems, Dr Sue Barrell. The new facilities will further improve the Bureau of Meteorology’s capacity to observe and track tropical cyclones and thunderstorms in the Kimberley region.

The new radar, which replaces one that had been operating at the site since 1975, uses the latest technology to provide clearer radar images at a higher resolution than previously possible.

Dr Barrell said the new facilities will provide a significant boost for local weather services and will provide valuable tools for the general public, aviators, the rural sector and local emergency services.

The new radar will provide meteorologists with the ability to more easily detect and track tropical cyclones and thunderstorms in the Broome area, which the Bureau’s Regional Director for Western Australia, Mike Bergin, described as covering “one of the most cyclone prone areas of Australia”

“Members of the public will also be able to access rainfall information from the Broome radar using the Bureau’s website,”said Mr Bergin.

The new office will have 4 observing staff and 3 technicians and was made possible by a 6-year, $20 million program to upgrade Bureau observing offices.

The Broome radar is one of 15 weather watch radars funded by the Australian government under a five-year, $62 million dollar radar upgrade project.

Imagery from the Bureau’s network of weather radars is available on the Bureau of Meteorology website www.bom.gov.au

Ends