Mr M J Ellis (DA) to Ask the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs

QUESTION NO. 2594.

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 27 NW3243E

DATE OF PUBLICATION: 10 September 2010

Mr M J Ellis (DA) to ask the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs:

(1) (a) How many upper-air accents are being performed daily by the SA Weather Service (SAWS) and (b) from which stations are these accents conducted;

(2) whether the number of daily upper-air accents has been reduced since 1 January 2010; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, why;

(3) whether there have been any days in this year on which three or less upper-air accents were performed; if not, how was this conclusion reached; if so, how can this be justified;

(4) whether the data obtained from the upper-air accents is of a reliable quality; if not, (a) why not and (b) what steps has she taken to rectify the situation; if so, how was this conclusion reached?

Mr M J Ellis (DA) SECRETARY TO PARLIAMENT

HANSARD

PAPERS OFFICE

PRESS

2594. THE MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS ANSWERS:

1. (a) The current planned upper ascents are 17 per day.

(b) Upper-air ascents are conducted at the following Stations:

i) Bloemfontein

ii) Durban

iii) Port Elizabeth

iv) Cape Town

v) De Aar

vi) Upington

vii) Irene ( Pretoria)

viii) Springbok

ix) Bethlehem

x) Polokwane

xi) Marion Island

xii) Gough Island

However due to budgetary constraints a reduction in the number of upper air ascents was implemented at Bethlehem, Polokwane and Springbok.

2. The reduction in the number of upper air ascent from June 2010 was as a result of the delay in securing radio sondes from the sole supplier (InterMet Africa Systems LTD) of the current radio sondes compatible to the ground receiving system that South African Weather Service (SAWS) utilises for upper air data sourcing. The reason for the delay was due to the fact that the tax clearance papers for the supplier were not in order for the current financial year. This matter is currently receiving urgent attention.

3. Yes. During June 2010 SAWS experienced equipment failure at Marion, due to loss of satellite signal hence no upper air ascents. At Gough island the wind was too strong thus hampering the launching of the balloon. As for the interior, the lack of ascent was as a result of delays in securing the radio sondes from the supplier due to tax clearance certificate issue.

4. Yes. Before SAWS embarked on utilisation of the current upper air system, a trial run was done at its office in Cape Town, where comparative ascent between Vaisalla system, which SAWS has been utilising for some time, and InterMet Africa System was done. Furthermore, comparative ascents were done in Namibia during October 2007 between, MODEM, InterMet Africa Systems and Vaisalla. The outcome of these comparative upper air ascents has proven that the InterMet Africa System’s performance was comparable to available systems in the market. It was after the Namibia meeting that a decision to utilise the InterMet System for operational purpose was reached.