AND
ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMISSION
FOR ASIA AND THE PACIFIC
WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones
Fortieth session
Colombo, Sri Lanka
25 February to 1 March 2013 / FOR PARTICIPANTS ONLY
WRD/PTC-40/Doc. 3.2 (1)
(12.II.2013)
______
ENGLISH ONLY
REVIEW OF THE 2012 CYCLONE SEASON
Reports of Members on the impact of tropical cyclones
(Submitted by Thailand)
WRD/PTC.40/Doc. 3.2(1), p. 2
1. REVIEW OF TROPICAL CYCLONES
No tropical cyclone around the Indian Ocean entered and affected Thailand in the past year.
In 2012, there were 29 tropical cyclones formed in the region of North West Pacific, South China Sea and Bay of Bengal, which covered in the synoptic weather map of Thailand region (Latitude 15°S to 45°N and longitude 65°E to 150°E). However, only 13 had origin or came across the area that might have an impact on the weather of Thailand (latitude 0°-25°N and Longitude 90°-120°E). Table 1 presents the detail of all tropical cyclones, include its period, formation and decay.
Table 1: All Tropical Cyclones came across Western Pacific
No. / Period / Sources / Dissipated area1. TD1 / 17 – 21 Feb / Lower South China Sea / Lower South China Sea
2. PAKHAR 1201 / 29 Mar – 2 Apr / Lower South China Sea / Cambodia
3. TALIM 1205 / 17 – 21 Jun / Northwest Pacific / The North coast area of Taiwan
4. DOKSURI 1206 / 25 – 20 Jun / Northwest Pacific / Southern China
5. VICINTI 1208 / 19 – 26 Jul / Northwest Pacific / Border of China Myanmar and Laos
6. SAOLA 1209 / 27 Jul – 3 Aug / Northwest Pacific / Fujian, China
7. KAI-TAK 1213 / 12 – 19 Aug / Northwest Pacific / South China near Myanmar border
8. TEMPIN 1214 / 18 – 31 Aug / Northwest Pacific / Northern China
9. GAEMI 1220 / 30 Sep – 8 Oct / Central South China Sea / Thailand
10. SON-TINH 1223 / 22 – 30 Oct / Northwest Pacific / Southern China
11. TD2 / 13 – 16 Nov / Central South China Sea / Near Southern Vietnam coast
12. BOPHA 1224 / 25 Nov – 9 Dec / Northwest Pacific / Philippines
13. WUKONG 1225 / 24 – 28 Dec / Northwest Pacific / Southern China
Figure 1: Tracks of Tropical Cyclones from Pacific Ocean in 2012
Source: Climatological Center, Thai Meteorological Department
During the period 1 January to 31 October 2012, only one tropical cyclone hit Thailand, namely tropical storm “Gaemi (1220)”, which developed from the low pressure cell over the middle of the South China Sea (13.5 °N, 113.0 °E) at 0000 UTC on 30 September. This depression had moved northwards on the first day and then northeastward. It intensified into a tropical storm at 0600 UTC on 1 October and turned southeastward and eastward, respectively. It continued to develop to a severe tropical storm and reached its peak intensity with the maximum wind of 50 knots near its centre. A gradual turn to the west occurred on 4 October and continued its westerly track towards Vietnam before making landfall in Qui Nhon, Vietnam on 6 October. It then entered Cambodia and downgraded into the tropical depression and moves further into Sa Kaew province, Thailand on late 7 October. Gaemi became low pressure cell over the eastern and central regions of Thailand on the following day and intensified the monsoon trough, lying across central and eastern regions of Thailand. This resulted in plentiful rain mainly over the central and eastern Thailand. The highest daily rainfall was 92.1 mm in Tak Fah District, Nakhon Sawan Province on
8 October. For the track of Gaemi and accumulated amount of rainfalls are as in figure 3 below. Table 2 shows only the tropical cyclone which made its way through the regions of Thailand.
Table 2: Tropical Cyclone came across came across Thailand
No. / Tropical Cyclone came across Thailand / Tropical Cyclone came across / Dissipated areaIntensity / Province / Date / Region / Date
1. GAEMI / Depression / Sa Kaew / 7 Oct / - / Thailand / 8 Oct
Figure 2: Track of Tropical Storm GAEMI (1220), 2012
Source: Climatological Center, Thai Meteorological Department
Figure 3: Accumulated amount of rainfalls from 6 October until 8 October 2012
Source: Climatological Center, Thai Meteorological Department
2. METEOROLOGICAL COMPONENT
In 2012, internal offices of the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) carried out activities in enhancing and raising projects to reach success; someway, some problems occurred.
2.1 Satellite Reception
The satellite ground receiving station had been enhanced with application program for meteorological data in different platforms through satellites, for example, MTSAT, FY-2, TIROS (NOAA), and Terra/Aqua Direct Broadcast (MODIS). About severe weather monitoring, these products would support more accurate analysis. Now it is in the process of verification.
2.2 Upper-Air Observatory
Routine upper-air observation at 11 stations across Thailand is released four times a day at 00, 06, 12, 18 UTC for Met-data, for examples, pressure, temperature, humidity, and wind speed and direction at vertical levels up to altitude about 16-25 km. Each station has different types of observatory as shown in Table 3 below:
Table 3
2.3 Telecommunication
- Replacement of old analog with digital system improves the linkage of the GTS and the AFTN;
- Control systems of telecommunication networks increased the development of a national early warning system and enhanced the data-collection system of meteorological stations across the country;
- The GTS connected the TMD with the National Disaster Warning Centre (NDWC) for scattering DART BUOY, installed in the Indian Ocean, to the WMO’s member countries. It also helped in-and-out data exchange improve in Table-Driven Code Form (TDCF). This project supported the TMD to be the RTH Bangkok WIS portal in Southeast Asia.
2.4 Aeronautical Services
Effective last year, the bureau had more Low Level Windshear Alert System (LLWAS) at the western side of the runway for airlines to obtain data, during their operation, covering Suvarnabhumi International Airport.
Since 9 May 2010, the Bureau of Aeronautical Meteorology had fulfilled the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) with ISO9001:2008 Quality Management System (QMS) in providing meteorological services for aviation, specified by ICAO within 15 November 2012. The BUREAU VERITAS totally approved the Scope of Supply under the service of Aeronautical Meteorological Information that requires the accurate and timely information according to universal standard for safety, economy and efficiency to service receivers.
Moreover, annual seminar on exploring satisfaction of aeronautical data service receiver aimed for developing and improving more effective service.
2.5 Weather Forecasting Service
Thailand issues the routine day-to-day weather forecast and the tropical cyclone warning. For public awareness and advice, much more weather advisories are issued at frequent interval if cyclones form in areas of the Indian Ocean and the North Pacific Ocean. The bureau will then transmit weather products to public and related agencies by telephone, fax, e-mail, website, and mass media.
Based on analyzing and forecasting tools, still the TMD uses primitive method. Further, no progress is reported in the growth of storm’s data concerning user’s need, the accuracy of severe weather forecast and warning, and movement of related technique and instrument.
Depended on the internet, data were exchanged through GTS Circuit with various meteorological centers, such as the JMA and the JTWC. These exchanged data were proved very effective and useful to adjust more accuracy of the storm’s course and intensity.
2.6 Maintenance Service
Sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, TMD has provided Myanmar with 20 sets of weather measuring instruments, 2 sets of maintenance tools and 1 set of automated attendant (8 coaxial cables). This project has been carried out under the plan on “Capacity Building of Personnel and Institutions for Weather Forecast and Early Warning System, as well as Rehabilitation of the Cyclone-affected Areas”. Since last year, these instrument sets have already been installed and are now in process of validity.
2.7 Storm Surge Forecasting
Marine Meteorological Center under Thai Meteorological Department has been responsible for running Storm surge model by using JMA Storm Surge Model, COHERENS and SMS model as operational in order to do warning people in the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea. The model products have shown the sea level changes or the maximum storm surge height map due to the influence of wind and low air pressure along the Gulf’s coast. You can visit our webpages as below:
http://www.marine.tmd.go.th/wam.html
http://www.oceansky.tmd.go.th/
2.8 Awareness Activities
Public awareness was designed to educate students, teachers and public all about weather as seen successful projects, namely, “Meteorological Roaming” and “Training Teachers of Meteorology”. Otherwise, we stressed on news distribution through public via media.
2.9 Information Access
The official website of the Thai Meteorological Department http://www.tmd.go.th serves people very well. They can surf and access to weather forecasts, warnings, tracks, meteorological reports, aviation weather charts and earthquake reports. You can access marine meteorological information such as ocean wave forecast product, storm surge model products and so on at http://www.marine.tmd.go.th .
3. Hydrological Component
3.1 Enhancement of Facility
Water management in Thailand comes under the care of two government agencies: the Royal Irrigation Department (RID) and the Water Resource Department (DWR).
The RID has strategies for flood prevention and mitigation, as well as impacts in urban and cultivated areas, with aims to reduce the loss of lives and properties of population at risk. Management plans are set in terms of monitoring, predicting and warning by establishment of Water Watch and Monitoring System for Warning Center (WMSC) to examine flood situations 24 hours. In addition, the collaborations with national related agencies for implementation plan cope with local flood protections in economic zones where severe flood may occur.
The state-of-art technologies were established, such as telemetry and flood forecasting systems. Similar to 571 manual river gauges and 2,294 manual rain gauges, 24 of 25 main river basins have 711 telemetric stations installed for water resources management and flood prevention and mitigation.
Involved in natural rivers and steep-slope upstream watershed, the DWR has developed and installed the early warning systems with automatic flood-warning sirens in 458 of 2,370 villages in disaster areas throughout Thailand.
Last 2011, 7 of 37 existing telemetric systems were additionally installed with flood models of both hydrometeorology and hydrodynamic, such as MIKE11, MIKEGIS, INFOWORK and AIT River network.
The risk of floods are mitigated and reduced in three steps following.
· First, the total 37 telemetric systems installed in 24 of 25 river basins throughout Thailand monitor real-time hydrological data for flood forecasting;
· Second, the forecast was issued and transmitted to regional offices, local agencies and public through website, radio broadcasting or media;
· Last, after flood events, water drainage pumping begins to reduce high water level or inundation. The headquarters and regional offices then provide equipment for flood recovery, such as 1200 mobile pumps, 121 impeller pumps, 37 backhoes, 17 dredgers, 29 tractors 44 trucks, 295 water trucks and 6 boats.
3.2 Achievement
RID’s staff attending training, workshop and conference both local and oversea have acquired more knowledge on technology relating flood forecasting and water resource management.
4. Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Component
4.1 Key Members on Work
Key agencies involved in disaster preparedness and protection includes the National Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Committee (NDPMC) and the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM).
Under the Ministry of Finance, the NDPMC determines the regulations of payment in mitigation and prevention activities of all related agencies regarding the national disaster prevention and mitigation plan.
The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM), under the Ministry of Interior, is a primary government agency in disaster management, responsible for imposing and implementing program policy, formulating operational guidelines and establishing criteria on disaster management. The DDPM requires promoting disaster prevention and preparedness, assisting disaster management with specialists, hardware, and software, and also assists in loss reduction of life and negative impact of all disasters. In addition, it organizes and conducts training activities related to all disaster management by collaboration with local and international organizations, such as ADRC, ADPC, JICA, GTZ, UNDP UNISDR, UNOCHA, UNEP, and so on.
The DDPM cooperated with United Nation International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) and Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre (ADPC) to formulate Strategic National Action Plan (SNAP) for Disaster Risk Reduction for Thailand and set up the working group composed of representatives from agencies concerned to draft SNAP. The draft plan is now submitting to the Cabinet for approval.
4.2 Framework of Early Warning System
An early warning system in Thailand is divided into 2 levels: national and local level.
In the national level, the disaster warnings and forecasts from related agencies will be spread to people through mass media. The DDPM will put them into the mechanism of the Ministry of Interior scattered to provinces, districts and local agencies.
In the local level, the low cost rain gauge simple to use and manual disaster siren have been installed in the flooded areas to observe and notify disaster forecasts and warnings. The villagers, as trainees, will learn how to measure, record and read daily rainfall amount. If the rainfall exceeds the predefined normal level, the village headmen will be notified to spread warnings through the broadcasting centers by the manual siren device.
4.3 Enhancement of Disaster Management
Several projects have launched for enhancing the efficiency in disaster management.
- Community Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM)
For improving public safety in risk areas, the CBDRM increases public capacity in disaster management. The DDMP cooperated with local agencies and international agencies to generate public awareness, as seen at present, more than 60,000 people in risk communities have been trained on this approach. In this year, the DDPM focuses on 18 communities selected from overall country to be retrained for sustainable community on disaster prevention.
- Mr Disaster Warning
Flashflood and Mudslide Warning Program aims for enhancement of local capacity in risk assessment and early warning collaborated with the Department of Provincial Administration, the Department of Local Administration, Meteorological Department, National Park Wildlife and the Plant Conservation Department, and National Disaster Warning Centre. Mr Warning is the voluntary villager functioning as a vigilant, a fore warner and a coordinator, now, having 20,296 persons in flood prone areas.