Meteorological system built in Sansha city   

三沙市已初步具备立体、实时气象观测功能

19日从海南省气象局获悉，经过多年建设和发展，海南省气象部门在西沙永兴岛建成了地面、高空和新一代天气雷达等观测设备，初步具备了立体、实时观测功能。

Haikou (CNS) -- After years of construction, a meteorological observation system enabling rapid forecasting over air and land masses is nearing operation-readiness in Sansha City, the government seat of Hainan Province's Yongxing Island, according to a source from the Bureau of Meteorology on July 19.

The government first set up a meteorological station on this one of the Xisha Islands and another on Coral Island in January 1975. At present, both stations are qualified as national benchmark weather stations, said Luo Jianping, vice director of the provincial bureau.

Luo added that new-generation weather radar was introduced to the islands in 2006 to enhance data-gathering and prediction of extreme weather conditions and storms.

A bonus is that the fishermen of Sansha City now can get the latest weather forecast information in the South China Sea via satellite equipment on their fishing vessels.