In Brasília, the National Institute for Space Research (INPE), Gilberto Câmara, lectured about CBERS satellite program and the climate and environment monitoring at the meeting held on March 18th in the City Hall Top Notch Studies Committee.
This subject has been in development since November 2008 when the flood hit Santa Catarina, what motivated the creation of an external deputies committee. INPE’s director suggested another meeting to present the studies and conclusions of the Institute regarding the climatic issues, specially a report that has been elaborated about Santa Catarina floods.
Gilberto Camara emphasized that by the time the flood happened in Santa Catarina INPE a couple of days before forecasted a great volume of water would fall on that area. “However we could not predict the correct volume. We forecasted that could rain 150 millimeters in the next three days, however it rained 450” Said the director.
INPE’s director asked for help to a couple of deputies to get back the R$ 45 million of the budget estimated for the institute in 2009 that was rejected by the federal government. The resources shall be used for the construction of the CBERS 3 and 4 satellites. He also thanked the R$ 120 million support given to purchase new supercomputers that will double INPE’s weather forecast capacity.
According to Camara, if they already had this supercomputer in 2008 the Santa Catarina’s rain volume had been forecasted precisely and the Civilian Affairs Support could have taken some actions to avoid most part of the death and damages that hit the state.
INPE’s director’s presentation to the City Hall Top Notch Studies Committee is available at
www.dpi.inpe.br/gilberto/present/inpe_congresso_2009.ppt
