Photos: Weather forecasters in Truong Sa Archipelago

With updated weather forecasts sent to the mainland timely and continually, members of the Meteorology Station on Truong Sa Lon Island have greatly contributed to providing necessary information to the fishermen during their fishing trips offshore, to the islanders in daily life and soldiers in training drills in Truong Sa Archipelago.

Truong Sa Lon Meteorology Station was built in 1977 as part of the hydro-meteorology station of Vietnam’s central southern region. It is one of the 26 international weather forecast stations coded 48920 by the World Meteorological Organization.

Nguyen Hong Tien, an officer of the station, said that data of the sea and weather forecasts sent to the mainland by members of the station on Truong Sa Lon Island are always adequate, precise and on time, because they are fully aware of the importance of such information to the fishermen, the residents and soldiers on the islands. Any delay or inadequate forecast may cause unexpected consequences in both human and material losses.

Although living in tough weather conditions and facing shortage of material facilities, Tien and his six colleagues work in shifts to undertake measuring and analysing the sea and meteorological data and send the results to the mainland every three hours (when the weather is normal), or every 30 minutes (when the weather is bad), from 1am to 10pm, every day.

Outsiders may think their routine job is simple, because all steps are done almost the same every day. However, only members of the station understand how important their job is in service of the fishermen, islanders and soldiers. Like those doing similar jobs in the remote mountainous regions, the weather forecasters’ job is so calm, yet requires great responsibility.

We accompanied Tien on a working trip, during which we learnt more about his job, which is different from the ones on the mainland. Tien recalled the first day when he started doing the job. “That day, I was entrusted to measure the wind velocity, which reached 16-17 metres per second, which means there is a big storm at the 7-8 grade and that may damage houses. I hurried to report that to the station’s main office, and received unexpected response from my colleagues, who affirmed that it was normal on the islands and nothing to worry about. It was the very first experience that I encountered in my three-year working term here,” said Tien.

Tien said he is very interested in observing and forecasting the weather changes, which helped him accumulate experience.

Around the Truong Sa Islands, the weather changes so quickly, with lots of wind, and that makes meteorologists’ job more difficult. However, it is also a good environment for them to train themselves and further advance.

“Seven members of our team are young and so enthusiastic, and we always help one another at work and in life. For example, the station’s chief, Vu Dinh Trung, who was born in 1984 from central Thanh Hoa Province, and Nguyen Tan Trung born in 1990 from central Phu Yen Province, have worked for a long time at the station and have lots of experience.

“In my first days on the island, sometimes I felt a bit scared when watching the big waves or listening to the strong winds. But now I am familiar with all of these things,” Tien said, adding that such kind of sounds are like an ocean song, a spiritual food for him and his colleagues to enjoy everyday.

Working hard on Truong Sa Lon Island, one of the country’s Truong Sa Archipelago, Tien and his teammates have contributed greatly in producing valuable weather forecasts in service of the local residents, as well as social and economic development in Truong Sa Archipelago.