Young Jordanians to be trained on weather forecasting

AMMAN — Dozens of young Jordanians will receive training on weather forecasting and climate systems under an initiative to boost their contribution and action in combating climate change.

The We are All Jordan Youth Commission launched the Friends of the Jordan Meteorological Department Initiative on Sunday in celebration of World Meteorological Day, annually marked on March 23.

“We announce the new initiative to raise the awareness of the public, particularly the younger generation, on weather forecasting and meteorology,” said Raed Nsour, a representative of the commission.

“In addition, we seek to provide assistance to the Jordan Meteorological Department (JMD) and engage young people in weather and climate issues,” he added.

The initiative was launched in a ceremony held by the JMD and the Ministry of Transport to mark World Meteorological Day, celebrated this year under the theme “Weather and climate: engaging youth”.

JMD Director General Mohammad Samawi noted at the event that engaging young Jordanians in meteorology seeks to raise their awareness of the challenges and risks resulting from weather phenomena and climate change.

“Today’s youths will benefit from the dramatic advances being made in our ability to understand and forecast the Earth’s weather and climate. At the same time, most of them will live into the second half of this century and experience the increasing impacts of global warming,” Samawi said.

He added that World Meteorological Day is celebrated every year to commemorate the entry into force in 1950 of the convention that created the World Meteorological Organisation, and it also highlights the huge contribution that national meteorological and hydrological services make to ensure the safety and well-being of society.

The JMD provides forecasts on weather conditions across the Kingdom via 40 meteorological directorates and stations around the country, according to Samawi. He noted that the JMD’s weather reports are 90 per cent accurate as the department uses state-of-the-art information reception, transmission and analysis systems.