The government delegate in Galicia, Pedro Blanco, expressed today his support and recognition to the workers of the Territorial Delegation of the State Meteorology Agency (AEMET) in Galicia for their “undeniable contribution to the security of people and goods in our Community”. It did so in the course of the commemorative event of the World Meteorological Day, which organized today the representation of the AEMET in Galicia at the headquarters of the Government Delegation.
Pedro Blanco highlighted the public service provided by the 50 people who work in the Galician delegation by extending his congratulations to all the people who make up the public meteorological services and the volunteers of them. And he acknowledged their courage in the work they do to combat disinformation and denial speeches, noting that “while others embrace these postulates, the Government of Spain acts responsibly, seeking maximum security for citizens.”
The delegate said that “we are facing a great challenge, which is climate change, and we cannot afford to take a single step backwards.” He recalled that, this year, the World Meteorological Organization dedicates its day to early warning systems, stressing the duty to “promote cooperation between the different actors who have the ability to predict and warn about an adverse meteorological phenomenon.”
In this sense, he warned that, only in 2024, the AEMET issued 216 weather warnings due to adverse phenomena on land and on the coast of Galicia. And he appealed to the need to continue promoting a “culture of security” around these notices in the whole of the citizenry.
Conference by Beatriz Hervella
This morning’s event brought together the staff of the AEMET Territorial Delegation and various heads of collaborating entities and scientific bodies. After the welcome, which was made by the territorial delegate of the AEMET, Francisco Infante, a conference was held around the theme of the World Meteorological Day. This year, this responsibility fell to the Galician AEMET meteorologist Beatriz Hervella, a professional with more than 25 years’ experience in research, prediction and dissemination. Currently, Beatriz Hervella acts as AEMET’s liaison with the World Meteorological Organization, especially on issues related to research in health and meteorological services.
Volunteer recognition
The event this morning ended with the handing over of the recognitions to entities and people who, in the four Galician provinces, collaborate voluntarily with the Galician delegation of the AEMET attending one of the 65 manual meteorological stations distributed throughout the Galician territory. Every year, the AEMET in Galicia awards four recognition diplomas in coincidence with this festivity, one for each province. This year, in the province of A Coruña, the CEP de la Picota, of the City Council of Mazaricos (A Coruña), was recognized, which collaborates with the Agency since 1997.
In Lugo, the volunteer José Prado Varela, of the Santa Marina de Eire, in Pantón, who has been a volunteer of the AEMET since May 1, 1966. In Ourense, the AEMET recognized the neighbor of the City of A Veiga, Marcos Pérez Rivas, who began the collection of thermopluviometric data of the station installed in the village of Vilanova in April 2011. And, in the province of Pontevedra, the Galician delegation of the AEMET recognized this year the CPI of A Cañiza, which collects since 2002 the data of the thermopluviometric station located in its facilities.
AEMET activity in Galicia
The AEMET Territorial Delegation in Galicia has a staff of 50 people destined between the central thirst and the meteorological offices of the airports of A Coruña, Vigo and Santiago and the observatories of Lugo, Ourense and Pontevedra. In its tasks, it has a meteorological radar in the City of Cerceda (A Coruña), a ray detector at the airport of A Coruña, an automatic radiosondeo equipment in A Coruña (AUTOSONDA), a spectrophotometer and 2 radiometric platforms (equipment installed at the headquarters of the Territorial Delegation). It also has 55 automatic weather stations and 65 manual weather stations served by collaborators distributed by Galicia.
Among other activities, the AEMET carries out the continuous monitoring of meteorological and climatic conditions in Galicia, and elaborates and supplies meteorological and climatological information to the citizens, administrations and Security Bodies and Forces. Also in A Coruña is located the National Centre of Maritime Meteorology of the Atlantic of AEMET, which is in charge of elaborating and supplying maritime meteorological information, including predictions and warnings, for the Atlantic coastal areas of Spain. Among other bulletins, in 2024 this center issued 147 warnings for coastal meteorological phenomena, of which 86 affected properly the coast of Galicia.