AccuWeather donates weather station to the American Meteorological Society chapter in Puerto Rico
AccuWeather, a global leader in digital media and weather-related big data, donated a new meteorological station to a local chapter of the American Meteorological Society in Puerto Rico.
The station has instruments that will help students from the Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology Program of the University of Puerto Rico in Mayagüez to develop their own weather forecasts and to gather crucial information for the documentation of weather conditions on the island.
Local news coverage during AccuWeather's visit to the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez.
"This station was very necessary for us to collect data and conduct research. This will also help to motivate new generations to take an interest in meteorology and atmospheric sciences," president of the organization Iván L. Fontánez told AccuWeather.
The old weather station was destroyed with the first blows of Hurricane Maria in September of last year.
The University of Puerto Rico (UPR) recorded more than $118 million in losses around its 11 precincts distributed throughout the island. In addition, increases in the cost of enrollment have been implemented and the elimination of academic programs has been contemplated, including the meteorology program. It is the only program on the island and in the Caribbean that focuses on atmospheric sciences and that has the support of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
In view of this situation, AccuWeather en Español Meteorologist Karuska Matos Horta did not hesitate to serve as a link between the company and the student organization to facilitate the donation of the meteorological device.
"I was part of the Puerto Rico’s Meteorological Society while I was in the UPR at Mayagüez. I am very happy to contribute to the meteorology program and create this collaboration that will help develop this new strain of atmospheric science professionals in Puerto Rico," said Matos Horta when the station was delivered.
The technological apparatus has a series of sensors that are synchronized every 2.5 seconds, allowing students to collect information such as wind speed, heat index, atmospheric pressure, humidity levels and other data that will later be applied to research on the weather conditions in Puerto Rico.
