The
Service C
The
Department of Meteorology is the National Meteorological Authority for
Swaziland. The Department was established by the Meteorology Act 1992 through
consolidation of the separate Meteorological Services which had existed prior to
that time. The Department currently operates under the authority of the
Meteorology Act 1992, which provides the explicit legal basis and, together with
the Convention of the World Meteorological Organization and other national and
international agreements and treaties, provides the basic charter for its
operation.
The
purpose of the Department of Meteorology is to contribute to Swaziland’s
social, environmental, economic and cultural goals through the performance of
the functions of a National Meteorological Service in the public interest
generally and in particular:
(a)
for the purposes of the Defence Force;
(b)
for the purposes of civil aviation; and
(c)
for the purpose of assisting persons and authorities engaged in primary
production, industry, trade and commerce.
The
overall mission of the Department is to observe and understand Swaziland’s
weather and climate and provide meteorological and hydrological services in
support of Swaziland's national needs and international obligations. This
overall mission involves four separate basic missions:
Monitoring:
Observation
and data collection to meet the needs of future generations for reliable
homogeneous national climatological data;
Research:
Research
directed to the advancement of meteorological science and the development of a
comprehensive description and scientific understanding of Swaziland's weather
and climate;
Services:
Provision
of meteorological and related data, information, forecast, warning,
investigation and advisory services on a national basis; and
International:
Coordination
of Swaziland’s involvement in international meteorology.
The
Meteorology Act defines the functions of the Department as:
(a)
the taking and recording of meteorological observations and other observations
required for the purposes of meteorology;
(b)
the forecasting of weather and of the state of the atmosphere;
(c)
the issue of warnings of gales, storms and other weather conditions likely to
endanger life or property, including weather conditions likely to give rise to
floods or bushfires;
(d)
the supply of meteorological information;
(e)
the publication of meteorological reports and bulletins;
(f)
the promotion of the use of meteorological information;
(g)
the promotion of the advancement of meteorological science, by means of
meteorological research and investigations, or otherwise;
(h)
the furnishing of advice on meteorological matters; and
(i)
co-operation with the authority administering the Meteorological Service of any
other country in relation to any matters specified in the preceding paragraphs.
The
Act confers on the Director of Meteorology such powers as are necessary to
enable the Department to perform its statutory functions and in particular to:
(a) establish meteorological offices and observing stations;
(b)
arrange with any Department, authority or person to take and record
meteorological observations and transmit meteorological reports and information;
(c)
arrange means of communication for the transmission and reception of
meteorological reports and information; and
(d)
arrange for the training of persons in meteorology.
Under
the authority of the powers of the Director, the Department carries out a number
of supporting activities as follows:
(a)
collection and dissemination of meteorological and related environmental data
and products;
(b)
analysis and prognosis of meteorological and related environmental conditions;
(c)
archiving of meteorological and related environmental data and products;
(d)
provision of automatic data processing facilities and support services;
(e)
provision of engineering support services;
(f)
training in meteorology and other fields related to the operations of the
Department;
(g) provision of public information and public education in meteorology;
(h) operation of a National Meteorological Library and provision of other technical support services;
(i)
conduct of necessary supporting research and development;
(j) coordination of information on Swazi scientific and technical programs in meteorology;
(k)
establishment and maintenance of meteorological offices, observing stations and
facilities and provision of accommodation for staff at remote locations; and
(l)
provision of necessary internal management support services
Under
Section 8 of the Meteorology Act, the Director may, subject to any directions of
the Minister, make charges for the forecasts, information, advice, publications
and other matter provided in pursuance of the Act.
National
Meteorological Service
Ministry
of Public Works and Transport
P.O.
Box 58
MBABANE
Swaziland
Southern
Africa
Tel.: +(268) 4046274 / 4045728 / 4048859
Fax.: +(268) 4041530
E-mail: weather@swazimet.gov.sz