Bahrain is now receiving precise and more frequent data related to climate forecast that helps maritime and air navigation, according to a top minister.
Transportation and Telecommunications Minister Dr Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa said this was thanks to the kingdom making use of advanced and integrated meteorological systems.
“Bahrain remains committed to developing early warning systems and strengthening meteorological capabilities by adopting advanced forecasting technologies,” he said.
He was speaking on the occasion of World Meteorological Day, marked yesterday under the theme ‘Closing the early warning gap together’.
Every March 23, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) commemorates the coming into force of the convention establishing the WMO on March 23, 1950.
The themes chosen for this year’s World Meteorological Day reflect topical weather, climate or water-related issues.
Recently confirming that 2024 was the hottest year on record, the WMO stressed the critical importance of early warning systems in disaster prevention and mitigation.
The systems can help people anticipate and prepare for various natural hazards such as storms, floods and heat waves before they strike, resulting in saving millions of lives.
Between 1970 and 2021, global reported economic losses from weather, climate and water hazards were a staggering $4.3 trillion. More than two million people died.
A total of 108 countries reported having some capacity for multi-hazard early warning systems last year. This was more than double the 52 countries in 2015.
Dr Shaikh Abdulla yesterday announced the ministry’s completion of installing third-generation satellite image and data receivers, enhancing national capacity in line with international systems and standards.
“Bahrain’s commitment to these efforts aim to enhance disaster management, enable timely alerts, protect lives and property and improve public safety and the security of maritime and air navigation, in line with Bahrain Economic Vision 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals,” he added.
He highlighted the ministry’s efforts to enhance collaboration and data exchange with national, regional and international centres, and to invest in early warning systems that support a safer and more sustainable future.
These measures, the minister said, ensure more accurate forecasting and faster response to climate shifts and hazardous weather, using safer, more effective procedures.
He underscored Bahrain’s active membership in the WMO since 1980 and its support for the ‘Early Warnings for All’ initiative launched by the United Nations Secretary-General in 2022, aimed at everyone, everywhere to be protected by an alert system by 2027.
Furthermore, Dr Shaikh Abdulla highlighted the successful launch of Bahrain’s first locally made satellite, Al Munther, earlier this month.
He noted the satellite’s use of artificial intelligence to analyse satellite imagery, its advanced remote sensing capabilities and its role in supporting national forecasting systems.
The SpaceX Falcon 9 carrying Bahrain’s first locally-made satellite took off on March 15 from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, the US.
The project by the Bahrain Space Agency featured a 3.2kg nanosatellite built entirely by the kingdom’s space engineers and scientists.
Al Munther translates to ‘the herald’ in English and is one of the names used to describe Prophet Muhammad in the Quran.
The satellite features four locally-developed payloads, including a medium resolution space camera, artificial intelligence-based image processing, cybersecurity module and a unique radio transmission payload, which will broadcast Bahrain’s national anthem and a message from His Majesty King Hamad that can be decoded and received by amateur radio enthusiasts and satellite receiving stations around the world.
The first meteorological records were registered in 1902 by the Bahrain Meteorological Directorate under the ministry.
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