At the start of this summer, Chinese scientists launched a typhoon--"tailing" program. As well as using an advanced frequency-intensive monitoring system, a well-equipped converted Jeep, which can chase a typhoon for continuous observation, will play a major role in the program.

The typhoon-tailing experiment, one of the key scientific projects authorized by the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology, is taking place in south China's Guangdong Province, where typhoons occur frequently from July to September.

China is one of the countries most seriously affected by typhoons. Nine struck its coastal areas last year, claimed a total of 231 lives and damages worth 17.65 billion yuan (US$2.1 billion). Guangdong on the country's southern coast suffers most from typhoons, usually of the greatest intensity.

The province has already built more than 300 automatic observatories with Doppler weather radar, wind profilers and other sophisticated monitoring facilities, which are considered essential for typhoon observation.

Guangdong also shares meteorological data with Hong Kong and Macao.

The typhoon-tailing program will require more large-scale investment to fund new equipment, including the vehicle-mounted meteorological detection apparatus.

When any typhoon lands on the coast, the Jeep loaded with the atmosphere profiler, Doppler sound radar and ultrasonic anemoscope which measures wind speed, will track the typhoon for close-up observations.

The introduction of typhoon tailing will provide an abundance of data and related information which will greatly increase the accuracy of typhoon monitoring and forecasting in China.

(People's Daily July 29, 2002)