Director of Meteorology Ahmed Abdulla briefing Qatar Civil Aviation Authority chairman Abdul Azeez al-Nuaimi and other officials about the functioning of the new seismic information system.
Picture: Jayan Orma

By Ramesh Mathew
Staff Reporter

Qatar’s Meteorology department has received a substantial boost with the formal dedication of its newly commissioned Seismic Information Network office at the Civil Aviation Authority’s premises in Abu Hamour, Doha, near the Medical Commission.

Qatar Civil Aviation Authority chairman Abdul Azeez al-Nuaimi launched the new facility yesterday at a ceremony attended by senior officials of the country’s armed forces, Ministry of Interior (MoI) and other government departments.

Speaking on the occasion, al-Nuami expressed the hope that the Seismic Information Network office would help the country’s meteorological activities in a considerable manner at a time when a large number of large scale developments, in particular construction is progressing all over Qatar.

Meteorological expert and Seismic Network head Mohamed Jaber al-Merri later told the media that the setting up of the new facility is the result of extensive studies carried out by the Meteorology department on various seismic related issues, especially after the massive earthquake that rocked Iran in April 2013.

“It was a devastating earthquake measuring close to 7.3 magnitude on Richter Scale and caused considerable damage across Iran and its bordering areas in Pakistan," he recalled while explaining the reasons for equipping the country’s meteorology department with the latest instruments available in the world.

Considering that the aerial distance to Iran from Qatar is less than 1000 miles, the official said Qatar is sparing no efforts to equip its meteorology department with the most advanced facilities to take care of its requirements on a war footing without waiting for any eventualities to occur.

The round-the-clock monitoring facilities, said al-Merri, would go a long way in safeguarding the interests of the region, including Qatar as any earthquake of even a magnitude of 5 on Richter Scale could adversely affect the region.

After the studies, the Meteorology department set up a total of six stations in Qatar, with both southern and northern regions accounting for three facilities each. On the Northern region the stations are in Al Khor, Al Ghuwairiya and Al Shehamiya, while on the southern side the stations would be in Al Tarayna, Abu Samra and Al Karaniya.

Of the six stations, three would be wholly dedicated to serve the requirements of the State and its Meteorology Department whereas the services of the other stations could be availed of by other sectors in future, explained the official.

As part of the precautions being taken to ensure the country’s safety in the event of any earthquake or other unnatural seismic disorders, the Meteorology Department would set up 20 more stations in the next one year in the West Bay and surroundings in view of the presence of a large number of high rises in the area.

At a time when a large number of construction activities are taking place in the country and more are expected in the next few years on account of the preparations for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the new development in the meteorology sector is considered a vital step, said al-Merri. This is being done in line with the country’s growing requirements as enshrined in the Qatar National Vision 2030, he added.