The Tribune

A NEWLY installed weather station at the Aquinas College campus is expected to enhance student learning, provide an additional avenue for public access to weather information and support the advancement of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education at the school.

The successful installation of the station was the result of a collaborative effort between the Catholic Board of Education's Facilities team; Dr Danny Davis, an Aquinas College alumni, parent and assistant professor in the Chemistry Department at the University of The Bahamas; along with Godfrey Burnside and his team from the Department of Meteorology.

The station is the second phase in the Aquinas College Air Monitoring Programme. It supplements the particulate matter monitoring system which was purchased and installed at the beginning of the 2016/17 school year.

Dr Davis said: "When we started to analyse the data we realised that we needed wind speed and direction to effect a more complete interpretation of the particulate matter data. This deficiency was most apparent when we looked at the data from the March 5, 2017 dump fire."

Dr Davis added: "To assist with the interpretation of the particulate matter data, wind speed and direction data were obtained from the Department of Meteorology. We had to assume that the wind direction and speed recorded at the airport by the Department of Meteorology were the same as at Aquinas College, but this was not necessarily a true postulation."

The Air Monitoring Programme was implemented in response to landfill fires in the area, according to a press release from the school. Measurements taken at the school showed that air quality on campus returned to pre-fire normal levels one week after the most recent fire. The data assisted administrators in making informed decisions as to when it was safe for school to resume.

"Weather affects many parts of our lives, from deciding what clothes to wear to our response to the threat of major weather events such as hurricanes and bush fires," the school noted in its press release. "Issues of climate change - air pollution (from cars, buses, bush fires, etc), UV radiation, risk of flooding - are all linked to weather. As an island nation it is important for us to not only pay attention to weather during times of crisis but to understand the daily impact weather has on us. The United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) asserts that becoming a weather-ready nation 'improves a nation's readiness, responsiveness, and overall resilience against extreme weather, water, and climate events.'"

The Aquinas College weather station gives students the unique opportunity to collect data in the field on weather conditions specific to central New Providence.

"The Aquinas College Air Monitoring Programme is a model that can be implemented throughout the Bahamas," said Mr Burnside. "The Department of Meteorology will be able to use the data from the Aquinas College weather station, particularly during the hurricane season."

The solar-powered weather station provides up-to-the-minute data reporting on wind speed, humidity, rainfall, ozone level, heat index and many other weather parameters. The information is transmitted wirelessly to an indoor console where it is stored and uploaded to the internet. The data from the weather station will be used to supplement geography and science classes, support the introduction of the NASA Globe programme to the school and aid the interpretation of particulate matter data from the existing monitoring station.

"I am extremely pleased that the Aquinas College weather station has been installed," said Reverend Patrick Christopher Pinder, archbishop of Nassau. "The recent commencement of the country's hurricane season is an important reminder of the huge impact of weather on our lives. I wish to thank those who partnered with Aquinas College to install the weather station. It will be a great benefit to the school and the broader community."