Region enables cross-border sharing of meteorological data and early warnings

China's first overseas cloud node dedicated to meteorological data sharing is helping deliver real-time weather information and disaster warnings to member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations as the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region expands its role as a hub for regional meteorological cooperation.

Located in Singapore, the platform, operated and managed in Guangxi, serves as a cross-border channel for sharing meteorological data and early warning information across Southeast Asia.

The overseas cloud node operates six service systems, including an ASEAN version of Fengyun Earth, and provides more than 20 categories of meteorological products covering agriculture, logistics, disaster prevention and mitigation, said Li Yanping, deputy director of the Guangxi Meteorological Data Center.

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"The overseas data center enables weather data to be transmitted to multiple ASEAN countries within seconds while improving the security and efficiency of cross-border data sharing," Li said.

Sharing similar exposure to typhoons, torrential rains and other weather-related disasters, Guangxi and many ASEAN member states have expanded cooperation on meteorological monitoring, forecasting and disaster prevention in recent years.

Meteorological authorities have also established a joint disaster prevention platform for the Beilun River, part of the China-Vietnam border, to address challenges in weather observation and cross-border data sharing.

According to local authorities, the platform has supported five joint typhoon-response operations and two maritime search-and-rescue missions while helping safeguard the release of more than 120 million aquatic seedlings.

Guangxi has also developed a landslide risk warning system that can be tailored to the terrain, climate conditions and disaster vulnerabilities of individual ASEAN countries.

Su Hualin, chief engineer at the Guangxi Meteorological Technology and Equipment Center, said the system is currently operating on the Lancang-Mekong meteorological platform and provides landslide risk assessments and early warnings.

The system has already been deployed in pilot projects across Laos, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia, providing more targeted warnings and helping local communities improve disaster preparedness, he said.

Beyond weather disaster warnings, agriculture has become another key area of cooperation. By integrating artificial intelligence, China and ASEAN member states have developed monitoring services to support agricultural production in countries including Thailand, the world's second-largest sugar exporter.

Ding Meihua, a senior engineer at the Guangxi Climate Center, said the region has extended its expertise in sugarcane meteorological services to neighboring countries.

With support from China's National Satellite Meteorological Center, Guangxi meteorologists use Fengyun weather satellites to monitor sugarcane growth, moisture conditions and drought risks throughout the crop's growth cycle in Thailand.

"The data helps provide more accurate assessments of crop conditions and supports decision-making across the global sugar industry," Ding said.

In addition, the Special Field Experiment Site for National Integrated Meteorological Observation in Nanning is the first comprehensive meteorological observation platform in China designed specifically to support cooperation with ASEAN countries.

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The site enables coordinated observations using ground stations, weather balloons, radar systems, vertical observation equipment and satellites to improve both operational forecasting and scientific research capabilities.

According to an official with the site, it is intended to promote exchanges on meteorological equipment technology and measurement standards, support joint technical verification projects and facilitate the expansion of Chinese meteorological equipment manufacturers into Southeast Asian markets.

Contact the writers at zhaoyimeng@chinadaily.com.cn