On Tuesday authorities in Tibet issued a plan regarding weather service during the 2008 Beijing Olympic torch relay atop the Mount Qomolangma, also known as the Mount Everest. The meteorological service is ready for the Olympic Torch to reach Mt. Everest.

Expert meteorological services are crucial to ensure the success of hauling the Olympic torch to the peak of Mount Qomolangma. The China Meteorological Administration (CMA) set up a special group to better service this program in early 2007. Later an automatic meteorological observatory at Mount Qomolangma Base Camp was built in May.

The automatic meteorological observatory provides weather status at different altitudes as well as weather forecasts. Moreover, the CMA will enhance space exploration via a global positioning system (GPS) inside the Nyalam climate observatory. It can compare the observation data with data saved at the Mount Qomolangma Base Camp.

The Tibet Autonomous Region Meteorological Station will provide weather forecasts, observation, advanced equipment and smooth communication to safeguard plan for the torch relay.

(China.org.cn by Wu Nanlan, January 31, 2008)