Beijing apologizes for erroneous weather forecasts

时间：2007-03-26 01:05:13

（单词翻译:单击）

BEIJING, March 23 - The Beijing weather bureau apologized to the public on Thursday for making incorrect temperature forecasts for three consecutive1 days and vowed2 to improve their accuracy for the 2008 Olympics.

 

The Beijing Meteorological Observatory3 has been widely criticized for giving erroneous temperature forecasts from Sunday to Tuesday. The temperature it forecast for Tuesday was a full 6.2degrees Celsius4 higher than the actual temperature and 5 degrees higher than on Sunday.

 

The false forecasts have triggered harsh words from Beijingers and some are doubtful if the meteorological departments will be able to produce a reliable forecasting service during the Olympics.

 

"Accurate weather forecasting will play a key role in hosting a successful Olympic Games and we started preparations in 2002 to improve our accuracy," said Ding Deping, director of Beijing Meteorological Observatory.

 

"However, Beijing's weather is very changeable in July and August and it poses a big challenge for Chinese meteorologists to forecast correctly during the Olympics," said Ding.

 

The Beijing Olympics will run from August 8 to 24 - the city sees about 40 to 50 percent of its annual precipitation during the same month.

 

The timing5 of the apology is nothing short of embarrassing for Beijing meteorological officials. On Wednesday, chief weatherman Sun Jisong of the Beijing Meteorological Bureau said, "Normally, weather services only tell people the possibility of rainfall, rough estimates of wind scale and temperature. During the Olympics, we will forecast the exact time of rainfall and be accurate to within minutes," Sun said.

 

It is not clear how far in advance weather forecasters will be able to issue forecasts for specific Olympic venues6.

 

Deputy chief engineer Wang Yubin, with the Beijing Meteorological Bureau, said, "Issuing weather forecasts over the Olympics will be very labor7 intensive and will require considerable expertise8 by local forecasters. But a shortage of skilled weathermen will be a major hindrance9."

 

Hundreds of experienced weathermen will be loaned out to the Beijing Meteorological Bureau to cope with the 17-day event, the Beijing Daily has reported.

 
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1 consecutive DpPz0     
adj.连续的，联贯的，始终一贯的
参考例句：
  • It has rained for four consecutive days.已连续下了四天雨。
  • The policy of our Party is consecutive.我党的政策始终如一。
2 vowed 6996270667378281d2f9ee561353c089     
起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）
参考例句：
  • He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
  • I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。
3 observatory hRgzP     
n.天文台，气象台，瞭望台，观测台
参考例句：
  • Guy's house was close to the observatory.盖伊的房子离天文台很近。
  • Officials from Greenwich Observatory have the clock checked twice a day.格林威治天文台的职员们每天对大钟检查两次。
4 Celsius AXRzl     
adj.摄氏温度计的，摄氏的
参考例句：
  • The temperature tonight will fall to seven degrees Celsius.今晚气温将下降到七摄氏度。
  • The maximum temperature in July may be 36 degrees Celsius.七月份最高温度可能达到36摄氏度。
5 timing rgUzGC     
n.时间安排，时间选择
参考例句：
  • The timing of the meeting is not convenient.会议的时间安排不合适。
  • The timing of our statement is very opportune.我们发表声明选择的时机很恰当。
6 venues c277c9611f0a0f19beb3658245ac305f     
n.聚集地点( venue的名词复数 )；会场；（尤指）体育比赛场所；犯罪地点
参考例句：
  • The band will be playing at 20 different venues on their UK tour. 这个乐队在英国巡回演出期间将在20个不同的地点演出。
  • Farmers market corner, 800 meters long, 60 meters wide livestock trading venues. 农牧市场东北角，有长800米，宽60米的牲畜交易场地。 来自互联网
7 labor P9Tzs     
n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦
参考例句：
  • We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
  • He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。
8 expertise fmTx0     
n.专门知识(或技能等)，专长
参考例句：
  • We were amazed at his expertise on the ski slopes.他斜坡滑雪的技能使我们赞叹不已。
  • You really have the technical expertise in a new breakthrough.让你真正在专业技术上有一个全新的突破。
9 hindrance AdKz2     
n.妨碍，障碍
参考例句：
  • Now they can construct tunnel systems without hindrance.现在他们可以顺利地建造隧道系统了。
  • The heavy baggage was a great hindrance to me.那件行李成了我的大累赘。

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