In the wake of last year’s Typhoon Haiyan which devastated the Philippines, a forum entitled “Readiness and Resilience: Lessons Learned One Year After Typhoon Haiyan” was held last 20 November 2014 to discuss lessons learned and ways to address disaster preparedness and build...
The partial eclipse (at moonrise) and the start of the total eclipse was not visible because of the hazy horizon and low clouds. Into the middle of the total eclipse (around 6:45PM), something was peeping out of the thick clouds, which we thought...
The proliferation of public and private sector initiatives and activities – shows that there is increased attention being given to building disaster and climate resilience in the Philippines. The private sector, in particular, has become increasingly involved in initiatives to make businesses more...
From their vantage point at Manila Observatory, scientists have monitored changes in temperature and rainfall that have altered life in the Philippines. But they also have watched changes due to human actions—land-use, building, and development decisions that have made people more vulnerable to...
Filipino scientist Dr. Faye Cruz of the Regional Climate Systems Research Program of the Manila Observatory won best poster award at the recent International Conference on Regional Climate (CORDEX 2013) held in Brussels, Belgium. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the European...
In August 2012, Metro Manila and its environs experienced the effect of an enhanced Southwest monsoon season (locally known as habagat) which brought continuous heavy rains over a few days. Many called the disaster a “disaster with no name” as there was no associated tropical cyclone activity that was responsible...
There are three Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) stations deployed in the Philippines. Manila Observatory hosts the one in Quezon City, El Nido Airport houses the station in El Nido, and Notre Dame of Marbel University maintains the unit in Koronadal City. The data...
A toolkit for Local Government Units, “Alternative Pathways to Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction” was launched in 2012. The toolkit consists of a 12-step process for local governments to mainstream climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction (CCA-DRR). It includes methods...
Scientists from the Manila Observatory helped train local government units and communities in the science and framework behind disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation (DRR-CCA). The trainings took place in Iligan City, Lanao del Norte and at the Climate Change Academy in...
Air quality monitoring around Metro Manila in (1) National Printing Office along EDSA, (2) Philippine General Hospital along Taft Avenue, and (3) Metro Manila Development Authority Tapayan Pumping Station in Taytay, Rizal began in December 2012, as part of the 1 year monitoring ...
This collaboration between the Manila Observatory and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) is one of the activities within the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) project at IRRI. IRRI pursues a comprehensive research agenda on climate change...
The Seven SouthEast Asian Studies (7-SEAS) Palawan Aerosol Observation in 2012 was a continuation of the first mission in 2011. It was a one month field measurement campaign that included sites at the shore of Balabac Island in Palawan and the Tubbataha Reef...
Metro Weather is a public-private partnership that has established a network of 30 automated weather stations (AWS) in Metro Manila. This network will provide free and near real-time weather data that can be used to prepare for severe weather conditions such as tropical...
Makati City and the Manila Observatory take on climate change and disaster risk management together as the city’s weather monitoring station project was formally launched in Barangay San Lorenzo by Makati City Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay, city officials and barangay kagawads. Manila Observatory’s...
In partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Ateneo School of Government, the Manila Observatory used station observations from the province of Nueva Ecija to identify local temperature and rainfall trends for the agriculture sector. This study showed that there...
The Air Quality Dynamics program under the guidance of Fr. Jose Ramon T. Villarin, S.J., and with SEED Institute was involved in the quality assurance of the 2010 Greenhouse Gas Inventory of Metro Manila. This project was developed for the Department of Environmental ...
The year 2012 was a year of growth for the Manila Observatory. We celebrated triumphs, new collaborations and the strengthening of partnerships in the pursuit of our science agenda. Here are some of the many highlights of our work in 2012. Exhibit by...
Clint Bennett and Dr. Quirino Sugon Jr., faculty members of the Department of Physics of Ateneo de Manila University, attended the 2012 ISWI and MAGDAS School on Space Science in Ciloto, Indonesia last 17-26 September 2012. ISWI stands for the International Space Weather...
The DOAS has been deployed for field testing. The transceiver has been modified to improve the beam collimation and alignment. The calibration unit has been upgraded and is now leak-free. The analyzer has been assembled and programmed to take measurements of criteria gas...
MO Davao station was able to detect 633 earthquakes in the past year (Jan 2012- Dec 2012) which were reported to the International Seismological Centre in the UK. Earthquake information on some local tremors (e.g. Negros-Cebu earthquake on 6 February 2012, and Negros...