The Portuguese Sea and Atmosphere Institute (IPMA) announced the strengthening of the meteorological observation network in the Atlantic through the VOS Portugal Programme, which aims to continuously monitor meteorological and oceanographic conditions. This programme is part of the international VOS (Voluntary Observing Ship) initiative, in which voluntary ships collect essential data during navigation on Portuguese maritime routes.
The state-of-the-art EUCAWS Neptune automatic weather stations are already operational on several ships, including IPMA's N.I. Mário Ruivo and three national merchant vessels. These devices follow the standards of the EUMETNET Surface Marine Programme and are crucial for the precise observation of atmospheric and oceanic variables.
The data collected covers routes between mainland Portugal and the Autonomous Regions of the Azores and Madeira, as well as connections to Cape Verde. This information is automatically sent to the Global Telecommunication System (GTS), a global network managed by the World Meteorological Organization, making the data available to the international scientific community.
The programme contributes to improving weather forecasts and to understanding maritime climate and changes in the marine environment. IPMA also highlighted the collaboration with Transinsular, a Portuguese company specializing in maritime cargo transport, which actively participates in the programme, demonstrating the partnership between public and private institutions in promoting science and technology in Portugal.
