The Finnish Meteorological Institute - A loop in the authority network
03.05.2011, 14:14
The Finnish summer of 2010 was one to remember: heat records were broken and the country was shaken by storms. Storms Asta and Veera cut down trees like grass and thunderstorms caused exceptional fluctuation in sea levels.
Disaster was brewing, but major accidents were avoided. The Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI) was one of the links in the chain of smooth cooperation between the authorities.
“The task of the FMI is to forecast weather, involving in particular the earliest possible detection of storms. We also relay information on unlikely alternatives. We try to study weather conditions for anything that may affect safety or the operation of rescue authorities, so that they can proportion their personnel resources correctly,” says meteorologist Tapio Tourula from the Finnish Meteorological Institute.
Where necessary, the FMI also issues weather warnings to the general public. In August last year dangerous thunderstorms led the FMI to issue several public notifications within the space of one weekend. Such notifications are generally rare; they are transmitted when the situation is assessed as posing a threat to human life. Emergency announcements, on the other hand, are transmitted when there is an imminent threat to human life.
Forecasts and warnings
Finland is known as a model country in cooperation among authorities, and the cooperation has been extremely smooth for the FMI as well.
“For example, last summer we were able to be prepared and warn the authorities of upcoming storms,” Tourula says. In recent years the FMI has invested particularly in the forecasting of dangerous weather phenomena, and with successful results.
Tourula says that constant on-call activities are a requirement for operations that are efficient and able to respond to various threats. Reporting to authorities takes place through the updating of emergency notifications. For example, last summer the notifications were updated up to 5–10 times in connection with a single storm.
Emergency situations might also require expertise in forecasting advection, dispersion and drift patterns as well as the decisions made by the on-call meteorologist.
“The ability of the FMI to anticipate weather conditions and other variable conditions allows the authorities to improve their efficiency. It is essential that information flows between the different parties. The dedication and attitude of the various authorities are excellent. The cooperation is seamless and the division of tasks is clear. Safety-related weather services are an important loop in the network of authorities.
In common exercises the scenario often involves weather phenomena and related disasters.
“Weather is a significant cause of actions by authorities.”
The FMI also uses VIRVE as a reliable communications channel. In addition to Helsinki, VIRVE is used at FMI offices in Tampere, Kuopio and Rovaniemi.
“Communications equipment needs to be absolutely reliable. Regular networks may become congested in emergencies and stormy weather may break down connections. When push comes to shove, the importance of communications equipment is especially great,” Tourula points out.
VIRVE News 2011
Text: Riittamaija Ståhle