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The Korea Meteorological Administration is preparing to launch a meteorological satellite to improve its capacity to gather weather information. The KMA, which has often been criticized for the haphazardness of its forecasts, on Tuesday said the stationary communication, ocean and meteorological satellite (COMS) will be carried into orbit by an Ariane V Rocket from the European space center in French Guiana in November.
If the satellite is successfully launched, Korea will be the seventh country in the world that possesses a stationary meteorological satellite.
"Using our own meteorological satellite, we'll be able to carry out monitor specific regions precisely during specific timeframes," a KMA official said. "We can save human lives and reduce property damage in the amount of more than W40 billion (US$1=W1,380) per year in weather-related disasters thanks to the improved capacity to monitor typhoons and torrential downpours."
Korea relies on Japanese U.S. and Chinese satellites for 11 kinds of weather information. In the future, the KMA says it will improve the accuracy of forecasts because it can monitor the Korean Peninsula at eight-minute intervals.
But how helpful the satellite will be to improving accuracy remains to be seen. While it will be possible to gather more real-time data through the satellite, converting them into accurate forecasts is another matter, experts say. "First and foremost, it's, of course, necessary to carry out precise monitoring to enhance accuracy of forecasts," said Prof. Byun Hi-ryong of Pukyong National University. "But weather forecasters also have to be tech-savvy."
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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