Canadian Government Invests $78.7 Million Dollars Towards Weather Monitoring Systems

As of January 20, 2012 Environment Minister Peter Kent announced that the Harper Government will be investing $78.7 million dollars over the next few years to increase the capability of weather monitoring systems making sure Canadians get access to world class weather data."This investment in Environment Canada's weather monitoring infrastructure will result in improved weather forecasts and warnings to better protect Canadians."The upgrades will help strengthen the Department's weather monitoring networks including the weather radar network, which is the part of Canada's severe weather warnings service that has been there for 40 years. The upgrades will also modernize the monitoring infrastructure and help Environment Canada keep up with the rapid evolution of new science and technologies.

The Areas that will be upgraded are as follows:

Canadian Weather Radar Network ($45.20 million)
Canadian Weather and Climate Observing Networks ($18.80 million)

Canadian Aerological Network ($4.20 million)

And the Canadian Lightning Detection Network ($10.50 million)

This new funding complements the Meteorological Service of Canada's ten-year strategic plan that addresses critical infrastructure, scientific advancements, life-cycle management strategies and important services delivered to all Canadians.

On average per year Environment Canada issues
-1.5 million public forecasts
-15,000 severe weather warnings
- 500,000 aviation forecasts
-200 000 marine, ice and sea-state forecasts

*Some Of this Information was taken from http://news.gc.ca/web/article-eng.do?nid=652049*