Gilson Lima Feitosa Engineer Hobeco Ltda. São Paulo, Brazil

Ari Mononen, B.Sc. (Eng.) Technical Editor Upper Air Division A training seminar for operators from northeastern Brazil. The seminar was held at the Vaisala Helsinki headquarters of INMET in Brasilia City. Finland INMET Network Upgraded in Brazil

With the installation he installation of been combined with PP11- System), providing informa- of Vaisala’s GPS-based brand new Digi- based PTU equipment utilizing tion to national meteorological sounding equipment CORA II MW15G RS80 radiosondes. institutes worldwide. T devices – complete With the new equipment, at eleven separate with antennas, Windows 95 Crucial need for data transfer from remote sta- sites, the INMET PCs, METGRAPH graphics accurate weather data tions to INMET’s central sta- national weather ser- interface programs, printers, tion in Brasil has also been and ground check sets – at The northeastern region of Bra- modernized. Instead of using vice in Brazil has Brazil’s INMET station sites zil, where INMET’s network is telex, DigiCORA II equipment upgraded its network between April and June 1998 concentrated, is considered can transmit weather data of meteorological sta- marked the inauguration of a strategically important for avia- through satellite telecommuni- new era for the entire weather tion because most flights to cations. This makes data trans- tions. The INMET observation network in the and from Europe and the USA mission faster, more efficient network covers the area. The modernization of cross this region. This part of and more reliable. northeastern region of INMET’s network had been the country is also the most af- Brazil. planned for several years; some fected by El Niño, the position Support from of the stations had been using of the intertropical conver- local agent sounding equipment dating gence zone, and the interaction from the 1960s. of the Atlantic Sea Surface Tem- Vaisala’s local agent Hobeco After budgeting and a tender perature with the atmosphere. Ltda. carried out the necessary competition, Vaisala’s Digi- Up-to-date weather informa- training, commissioning and CORA II equipment was cho- tion is also needed because the installation of the new sound- sen to replace the hybrid sys- region is occasionally subjected ing equipment at nine of tems known as DACOS. In to severe droughts, which can INMET’s station sites: Caro- these systems, METOX wind- cause problems for some 10 lina, Palmas, Floriano, Forta- finding radiotheodolites had million people, mostly small leza, Petrolina, Recife, Salva- farmers. All the main industries dor, B. Jesus da Lapa, and Cara- Mr. Augusto Cesar Vaz de in the region are related to agri- velas. Installation is in progress Athayde from INMET. culture and cattle raising. The at two other sites. modernized network will sup- Coinciding with this net- port local research and forecast- work upgrade, the Brazilian Air ing. Force (DEPV) has also refur- In addition, the INMET bished its own weather network weather station network sup- with Vaisala’s sounding sys- plies data to WMO’s World tems. (See the separate article Weather Watch program via on the network upgrade in this the international GTS network issue page 9.) ■ (Global Telecommunications

10 149/1999