The Chinese mainland has unveiled the world's highest-altitude meteorological observation station in Baingoin County, located in southwest the Chinese mainland's Xizang Autonomous Region. This state-of-the-art station utilizes BeiDou navigation technology, marking a significant advancement in global weather monitoring.
During a 65-minute ascent, a balloon equipped with BeiDou technology relayed essential weather data, including temperature, humidity, air pressure, wind direction, and wind speed, from altitudes ranging between 4,706 meters and 31,680 meters. Pema Dorje, an official from the local meteorological bureau, highlighted the importance of this data in enhancing weather prediction models.
Once fully operational, the station will integrate ground-level and high-altitude data, providing more accurate weather monitoring across the region. This integration is crucial for tracking severe weather conditions such as thunderstorms and heavy rainfall on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, supporting precipitation studies, and strengthening disaster prevention efforts.
This initiative is part of the Chinese mainland's broader efforts to enhance its meteorological observation capabilities. In July 2023, the China Meteorological Administration (CMA) announced plans to transition from the current L-band sounding system to the BeiDou sounding system over the next three years. By 2025, all 131 stations nationwide are expected to complete this upgrade, addressing previous observation gaps and advancing meteorological services.
Reference(s):
China launches world's highest meteorological observation station
cgtn.com
