Jordan Meteorological Department installs new electronic weather station on Gulf of Aqaba shore

The Jordan Meteorological Department installed a new electronic weather station on the southern shore of the Gulf of Aqaba to enhance national weather monitoring. This new facility utilizes electronic sensors to track multiple atmospheric variables, including air temperature, relative humidity, atmospheric pressure, rainfall amounts, wind speed, and wind direction. The installation serves as a qualitative addition to the weather monitoring infrastructure of the Kingdom, according to Raed Rafed Al-Khattab, the Director of the Jordan Meteorological Department.

Enhanced monitoring and data transmission

The new station is designed to provide continuous and precise meteorological data to central authorities. Data collected at the southern shore of the Gulf of Aqaba is transmitted automatically and regularly via an electronic system to the main center of the Jordan Meteorological Department located in Amman. This automated process ensures that the national climate database remains updated with real-time information from the coastal region.

The location of the new station allows for detailed spatial variation studies. Scientists can compare the readings from the new coastal station with data collected from the existing Aqaba Airport station to understand local weather patterns. This comparative analysis is vital for understanding how the surrounding mountainous terrain and thermal variations between the land and sea water influence the local climate of the Gulf of Aqaba.

Support for key economic sectors

The Jordan Meteorological Department intends for this project to support several critical sectors within the country. By monitoring local weather changes and wind conditions, the station provides essential data for the tourism, maritime, and environmental sectors. Precise weather information is necessary for maritime safety and for managing tourism activities along the coast.

Raed Rafed Al-Khattab said, "The new station is a qualitative addition to the Kingdom's weather monitoring infrastructure and will support various sectors including tourism and maritime safety."

Climate research and international standards

The installation of the electronic weather station is part of a broader effort to strengthen the climate bank maintained by the department. The data gathered will support long-term research initiatives and contribute to the overall robustness of the national climate database. This data collection is essential for understanding long-term environmental trends in the region.

The project was implemented following the technical standards set by the World Meteorological Organization. By adhering to these international guidelines, the Jordan Meteorological Department ensures that the data collected at the Gulf of Aqaba is compatible with global meteorological systems and meets professional scientific requirements for accuracy and reliability.

Glossary

• Gulf of Aqaba — The Gulf of Aqaba is a narrow body of water that separates Egypt's Sinai Peninsula from the western border of Saudi Arabia. It is situated along the southern portion of the Dead Sea Transform fault zone.
• Amman — Amman is the capital of Jordan. It features an extensive road network that reflects the city's growth and geography.
• Kingdom — The kingdom was an ethnically, religiously, and linguistically diverse territory. It was characterized by a Catholic elite minority and a majority of native Christians and Muslims.