THE Fiji Meteorological Service has enhanced its services in the South Pacific region with the upgrading and introduction of new technology, says assistant Minister for Infrastructure Vijay Nath.

He said the new infrastructure was part of Government’s investment in disaster risk reduction and the modernisation of meteorological services.

“Government has upgraded three radars to Doppler capability, implemented data rescue and digitisation, installed telemetry systems for weather, climate and hydrological data needs,” Mr Nath said.

“We have also set up a disaster recovery centre in Suva to ensure business continues as usual should the Nadi weather office go offline for some reason.”

He said those measures were taken to ensure the Nadi office was well served so people and stakeholders could take appropriate counter-measures well in advance of natural disasters.

He also explained the need for such infrastructure in the face of stronger tropical cyclones and changing temperatures attributed to climate change.

“I am being informed that sea level rise in the Pacific has reached about 12 millimetres per year from 1993 to 2009, about four times the global average.

“Sea level rise alone puts the existence of low-lying Pacific islands at risk with more than 50 per cent of the population and most infrastructures concentrated within 1.5km of the shore.

He said climate change was a threat to livelihoods and sustainable development in the region.