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Met Office signs agreement to support climate and weather research in Singapore
To help Singapore
build up climate science capabilities to prepare for climate
change, the Met Office has signed a Memorandum of Understanding
with the Singapore National Environment Agency (NEA).
The collaboration aims to enhance the NEA Meteorological Services Division’s climate science capability to produce reliable projections of Singapore’s rainfall, temperature, wind and sea level for different time-scales up to 2100.
The collaboration is expected to last for at least three year, covering the joint development and implementation of climate models, the exchange of scientists and the undertaking of regional climate science research. This long-term partnership is an important step towards building a sustainable climate science capability in Southeast Asia.
Mr John Hirst, Met Office Chief Executive said: "I am delighted to have signed this agreement. The UK Met Office and the Singapore National Environment Agency have a mutual interest in continually improving the scientific understanding and modeling of climate in order to inform decision making around our changing climate.
"This partnership will enable us to advance climate research, modeling and prediction in Singapore, the wider Southeast Asian region and across the globe."
Mr Andrew Tan, NEA CEO, said: "We are pleased to secure the expertise of the UK Met Office Hadley Centre. Through the MOU, NEA will be able to enhance its climate science capabilities, in line with its efforts to reposition the Singapore Meteorological Service as the national weather and climate authority. The signing of the MOU also signifies the commitment of the NEA and the UK Met Office to advance the scientific understanding of the climate of Southeast Asia, including better prediction of the El Nino and La Nina phenomena, the monsoons and tropical convective systems, all of which have an important bearing on the weather and climate of Singapore and the region, as well as the global climate system."
This latest agreement with Singapore follows a number of partnerships and collaborations for the Met Office, both in the UK and internationally. For example, the Met Office is also working with:
* The Department for International Development and African stakeholders to improve the understanding and practical predication of African climate change in order to help alleviate poverty.
* A cluster of leading UK universities to advance the science and skill of weather and climate prediction.
* The National Environment Research Council in the Joint Weather and Climate Research Programme which aims to grow the UK's leading role in weather and climate research.
* Global national meteorological services including in Australia, South Korea, New Zealand, Norway, India and South Africa who collaborate on the use and development of the Met Office Unified Model, used for weather and climate forecasting.
- The Met Office is the UK’s national weather service, providing
24x7 world-renowned scientific excellence in weather, climate and
environmental forecasts and severe weather warnings for the
protection of life and property. www.metoffice.gov.uk
- The Met Office Hadley Centre advises the UK government on
climate change research. Its work is, in part, jointly funded by
Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) and
DECC, the Dept for Energy and Climate Change.
- The Singapore National Environment Agency (NEA), formed on
1 July 2002, is the leading public organization responsible for
improving and sustaining a clean and green environment in
Singapore. The NEA develops and spearheads environmental
initiatives and programmes through its partnership with the
People, Public and Private sectors. It is committed to motivating
every individual to take up environmental ownership and to care
for the environment as a way of life. By protecting
Singapore's resources from pollution, maintaining a high
level of public health and providing timely meteorological
information, the NEA endeavours to ensure sustainable development
and a quality living environment for present and future generations.
Contacts:
NDS Enquiries
Phone: For enquiries please contact the issuing dept
ndsenquiries@coi.gsi.gov.uk
Press Office
Phone: 01392 886655
pressoffice@metoffice.gov.uk
