Meteorologists challenged a proposed amendment to the Meteorological Act (氣象法) that would allow private companies to forecast typhoons, torrential rainfall or other severe weather at a public hearing at the Legislative Yuan in Taipei yesterday, with a majority saying that confusing information from different sources would make it difficult for the government to prevent and react to natural disasters.
The Central Weather Bureau is the only agency in the nation authorized by the Meteorological Act to provide forecasts on typhoons and other severe weather. The act allows only individuals, schools or private institutions approved by the bureau to provide regular weather and marine forecasts.
However, Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Yeh Yi-jin (葉宜津) said that prohibiting private institutions from forecasting severe weather harms the development of atmospheric science.
She proposed lifting the restriction and regulating media coverage of weather reports.
National Taiwan University professors Ben Jou (周仲島) and Kuo Hung-chi (郭鴻基) opposed the move. Saying they spoke from practical experience, the academics said weather data is supposed to help disaster-prevention agencies make critical decisions upon the proper interpretation of that data.
“Who should agencies choose to heed if the weather bureau gives a forecast that is different from one offered by a private institution?” Jou asked.
Kuo said that forecasts on typhoons or severe weather — if misinterpreted — could lead to casualties and property loss. The weather forecast should first be used to help the government reduce injuries and deaths and prevent disasters, with research development coming second.
Chinese Television System weather broadcaster Daniel Wu (吳德榮) and Formosa Television meteorologist Lin Jia-kai (林嘉愷) also disapproved of the amendment.
Wu, who was also the director of the bureau’s weather forecast center, said it is impossible for a weather forecast to be 100 percent accurate. He said that businesses could not bear the responsibility of being on the wrong side of a forecast and should let the government deal with what he sees as a “hot potato.”
WeatherRisk Explore Inc chief executive and general manager Peng Chi-ming (彭啟明) said that private weather firms would fold if all they could forecast were rainy or sunny days.
“If the government allows private institutions to forecast GDP growth or stock market trends, why can it not allow private companies to forecast weather?” he asked.
Peng said private companies are not set to compete with the weather bureau, but would complement the bureau’s work by offering more integrated information to the public.
The act can list what services private firms can report, he added.
Tsai Chia-hsun (蔡佳勳), who moderates an online atmospheric science forum, said the act should clearly define both a “discussion” of weather information and a “weather forecast.”
“Since counties nationwide use weather information to determine whether work and school should be canceled, [the central government] should also determine whether a county can use information from a private institution to make that decision,” he said.
Bureau Director-General Shin Tzay-chyn (辛在勤) said the bureau is not against lifting some of the restrictions, but the nation still must determine its standards when responding to emergencies.
Shin said weather forecasts should be based on observation, but added that some people simply analyze forecasts made by others. This explains why there is such diverse and confusing information about weather.
He added that weather forecasts are not equivalent to the meteorological industry, so relaxing rules does not necessarily facilitate the industry’s development.
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