PAGASA Most Advanced Doppler Radar in Catanduanes - Already Operational

Bato, Catanduanes - PAGASA Most Advanced Doppler Radar Location

The First of 3 Meteorological Doppler Radar (MDR) was already operational last April 2012 located on Buenavista Bato, Catanduanes, the most advanced doppler radar of Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Administration (PAG ASA) to date and first facility in the world to use Solid State Technology.

Currently, PAGASA uses the US made coaxial magnetrons Doppler technology which are installed on Baguio, Baler Aurora, Subic, Hinatuan, Tagaytay and Mactan which cost P3 Million each and to be replaced every 3-5 years.


PAGASA most Advanced Meteorological Doppler Radar Features:

1. More accurate weather forecasting using Solid State Amplifier (SSPA).
2. Uses all Digital instrumentation. Provides Digital Video Processing and Automatic Sequential Observation for Wind speed and direction and accumulated rainfall.
3. S-Band system can transmit sound waves as far as 480 kilometers away to determine wind velocity, rainfall volume, speed, coverage and intensity
4.  Low power consumption and can last up to 15 years.
5. The 8-storey fiber glass tower can withstand 450 Kph wind.

This P560 Million project was grant-in-aid program by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and investing on this accurate weather forecasting will really save thousands of people and Billion of Pesos. The other 2 MDR will be installed in Aparri, Cagayan Valley and Guiuan, Eastern Samar until 2013.

Source:
Bicolmail