QZ8501, floods, bomoh hujan and space science . The two tragic events (the massive floods and the loss of QZ8501) unfolding now have something in common. Weather forecasting (ramalan cuaca). Weather forecasting is crucial in aviation. Weather forecasting is crucial in predicting floods and their patterns. . Forecasting the weather is difficult. Weather is very complex - dependent on many many factors including atmospheric pressure, winds, temperatures, season, positions of the Earth, Sun and the moon, solar radiation, ocean currents, etc. Thats why we need very smart people (like Rem Dambul) to work on such fields. . One of the most useful tools in weather forecasting are the meteorological or weather satellites. Such satellites have been use since the 1960s. Satellites monitor and provide very useful information that allow Earth-based scientists to predict weather patterns and advise governments and the public accordingly. They are crucial in terms of providing advance warnings that can save thousands of lives. Similarly, the aviation industry relies on weather forecasting - telling airlines which routes to avoid and finding safe paths for aeroplanes. Weather forecasting saves lives. . For them to work, satellites have to be launched into orbit first. It is not easy to launch satellites into space. You need special rockets and technology to do so - which only a few countries have. Launching satellites into orbit is also a complex science - requiring the understanding and mastery of various fields of science including jet propulsion, rocket fuel, atmospheric science, gravitational dynamics, IT and electronics,etc, etc. Only a few countries have invested a lot of time and money in developing the technology to launch satellites in orbit (Malaysia is not one of them). . You know, every time I write something about space science, many zombies will comment sains angkasa ni buang duit aje, baik duit tu kita bagi tolong orang miskin. Space science is not only about sending man to the Moon. Space science provides numerous benefits in many fields including communications, entertainment, agriculture, natural resource management and of course, weather forecasting and disaster management. [in reality, without space science, we all will be orang miskin] . Of course in Malaysia we have alternatives. Instead of using satellites, we can always use our numerous bomoh hujan. . . p.s. I think Malaysia needs to seriously look at enhancing our weather forecasting capability, particularly to anticipate and plan for the annual floods. Saying hujan di sana sini is not enough.
Posted on: Mon, 29 Dec 2014 01:24:00 +0000