With understanding and knowledge, the media would be able to precisely convey weather and climate forecast messages to its audience, said an expert.
Jaiganesh Murugesan, a representative from the Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre (ADPC), made the remark at a meeting in Hoa Binh Province on May 28.
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| Jaiganesh Murugesan, a representative from the ADPC gives a speech at the conference. (Photo from Tuong Vi - VFEJ) |
This was the 3rd Biannual Seasonal Climate Forum, jointly organised by the National Hydro-Meteorological Services (NHMS) and the ADPC under a regional project supported by the American Red Cross. The goals is to ensure that weather and climate forecast products, despite their uncertainties and limitations, are understood by and communicated to the media and users on a regular basis.
Many ideas on how to bridge the gap between the forecasting provider and the media were addressed during the conference.
Nguyen Van Hao, a journalist from the Vietnamese News Agency, suggested that a common terminology in daily weather forecasts be used. "In order for important information to be processed and delivered successfully to readers, the more specific the language is, the easier it will be for us to achieve our goals."
Truong Quynh Trang, from the Vietnam Forum of Environmental Journalists, offered a different thought on the subject. She suggested that the NHMS add a new page that gives meaning to hydro-meteorological terminology on their website, so that any reporter or citizen could easily refer to it when they see a specific term that they don't understand.
Several reports on topics related to weather, climate, floods and storms were presented at the forum by representatives from the central hydro-meteorological services.
According to the NHMS, temperatures will continue to rise during the next few months. They are expecting about six or seven storms and tropical depressions in 2010, similar to the previous year.
Severe heat waves are expected for extended periods in the northern region and the North - Central Coast (from Thanh Hoa to Thua Thien - Hue) during the first half of the summer. Mountainous areas in the central highlands are subject to heavy rains, strong storms and floods upon the arrival of the monsoon season.
Through the media, the NHMS hoped that timely and accurate weather forecasts and warnings will reduce property damage and help keep people safer.
