Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Bekir Pakdemirli gave a speech at a hotel on the occasion of World Meteorological Day and said, "We are building 172 Alo Meteorology Call Center to serve our citizens more effectively and to increase our accessibility. So the services and products will be delivered to our citizens 24 hours nonstop."
Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Bekir Pakdemirli attended the event organized at a hotel in Uludağ due to "World Meteorological Day". He said that he cared about such celebrations to promote the services of the national meteorological organization and he said that he found it worthwhile to draw attention to the relations between meteorology and other disciplines.
"SUN, WORLD AND AIR"
Pakdemirli stated that this year's theme is determined as "Sun, World and Air" and he said, "Today, the World is transforming more rapidly than ever before and rapidly changing. With rapid population growth, increasing energy use and industrialization, factors and variables of sun, World and air directly affect all vital activities. Correspondingly, nations and states are more interested in the effects of natural disasters due to meteorological cases. At the height of the Global Risks Report published every year by the World Economic Forum in Davos "severe meteorological incidents" take place for 3 years. In addition, in this year's report "the possibility of being unsuccessful in the efforts of climate change prevention and adaptation" and "natural disasters" titles included in the first 5 items."
Pakdemirli indicated that meteorological and climatic data play an important role in the planning of activities related to weather conditions in all sectors.
Pakdemirli emphasized that production activities experience and comfort are climate-dependent and continued, "The fact that the whole society is able to plan in the direction of meteorological incidents provides a significant benefit to the economic life. If we act in harmony with climate, it is obvious that our economic losses will return to profit. In such a world, our General Directorate of Meteorology provides significant contributions to our national economy with the services in the areas of transportation, agriculture, forestry, energy, environment, urbanism, justice, health, tourism, sports. In addition to this, it contributes to the defense of the country with the support it gives to the Turkish Armed Forces in the air, land and sea and also supports relevant stakeholders in preventing natural disasters and decreasing its damages. So we do not look at meteorology only as being full or boiling of our cooking pot or like "should we take an umbrella tomorrow?" We are not looking at a small lodge. Meteorology's predictions and data now lead and direct all national and international activities from sports to economy, from urbanism to defense."
91.4 PERCENT HIT IN RAINFALL ESTIMATES
Minister Pakdemirli stated that the General Directorate of Meteorology strive for spreading observation systems to the country and for keeping it active continuously and strengthen its technological infrastructure continuously.
Pakdemirli indicated that they follow meteorological incidents 7 days 24 hours with 1866 observation system and he continued, "In this concept, we have implemented investments contributing to flight safety, such as Low Level Wind Break Warning System, which we opened at Antalya Airport on February 9th."
Pakdemirli stated that they know how important to predict climate events and continued,
"In 2018, rainfall estimation consistency was realized as 91.4 percent, temperature estimation consistency was realized as 87.2 percent which is the highest consistency ratio. In 2018, an early warning was issued for 798 strong meteorological incidents. Agricultural sector is one of the most important sectors where high consistency rates can be used. The cooperation protocol signed between Turkey Union of Agricultural Chambers and General Directorate of Meteorology is a practice carried out for the first time during our ministerial period with a view of the presidential government system. Thus, we are sending meteorological early warning information to the 4.8 million member of the Union of Agricultural Chambers farmers' mobile phone. There is also a Meteo Alert put into practice during our Ministry. Meteorological warnings are now provided with color codes in accordance with the standards set by 34 European countries. Thus, the warnings given on the district basis are much easier to understand. Again with the fish season we opened with our President, we started to send meteorological warnings to our 2500 fishers' mobile phone. Of course, in 2018 our super computer system that carried out 167 trillion transactions per second was put into service. With this system, we have provided meteorological support needed by all related sectors and we continue to provide.
"WE WILL WARN OUR CITIZENS SOON AGAINST POLYENES"
Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Bekir Pakdemirli pointed out that they ground on the vision of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan which is becoming one of the leading countries in the Antarctic.
Pakdemirli reminded that the General Directorate of Meteorology counted one of its engineer in Antarctic research activities and set up an observation station. He said, "In our country, studies on monitoring systems infrastructure, numerical weather estimating model studies and raising awareness of citizens have been initiated for the purpose of detecting, following and estimating hoses for the region between Fethiye and Anamur where the hose incidents are most common. In addition to that, our General Directorate of Meteorology also prepares forecasts and warnings for our seafarers and shares them with the public."
Pakdemirli mentioned that activities carry out in many areas such as tourism and travel.
Pakdemirli said that they plan to present the forecast and early warnings of General Directorate of Meteorology under the Piri Rein maritime page in order to help cruise safety of Turkish and foreign flagged vessels navigating in the seas and inland waters.
Pakdemirli continued, "We are establishing 172 Alo Meteorology Call Center in order to provide more efficient service to our citizens and to increase our accessibility. So that the products and services produced will be delivered to our citizens 24 hours nonstop. The studies in medical meteorology field are carried out within the body of our General Directorate. These are forecasts and warnings for extreme heat and cold weather. In the spring and summer, forecasts and warnings are also made about the transport of desert dusts that affect our country and those who have heart and respiratory diseases, pregnant women, children and the elders and those who have chronic diseases. Finally, pollen measurements are made with the cooperation of our General Directorate of Meteorology and Ege University. Meteorological developments and pollen movements are examined. With the project, we will soon warn our citizens against pollens."