Category Archives: Weather Station
Update on the Mini weather Station at Biodiversity Centre Gunung Brinchang 2022
Our collaboration with the Meteorological Department continued in 2022. This included providing staff from the Meteorological Department transport to Bio D centre and back. Mr Kumaresan, our subcommittee member, would fetch the staff from their office every Wednesday to Bio D centre at 8.30 am. The officers numbering 3-4 persons would then take the readings at our mini weather station. By 11.30 am on most visits they would complete their work and Mr Kumaresan would fetch them back. Readings taken include amount of rainfall and quality of rainwater with the ” Wet-Only Rain Water Sampler” (set up in Sept 2020). Rainwater samples would be sent to the main Meteorological Lab in Selangor for analysis. Other weather parameters monitored include air quality set up in 2017 and these are carried out monthly with different instruments. They include NO nitrogen oxide, NO2 nitrogen dioxide, SO2 sulphur dioxide, and NH# amnonia.
Kerjasama REACH dengan Jabatan Meteorologi Malaysia (Met Malaysia).
oleh Cheam May Choo
Pada tahun 2016 , Jabatan Meteorologi Malaysia telah menandatangani Memorandum Persefahaman ( MOU) bersama REACH untuk kerjasama dalam bidang penyelidikan dan pemonitoran cuaca dan komposisi atmosfera di Pusat Biodiversiti REACH di Gunung Brinchang. MOU ini adalah untuk tempoh 5 tahun. Segala hasil penyelidikan akan dikongsi bersama Met Malaysia dan REACH.
Sebuah stesen cuaca mini akan didirikan di pusat Biodiversiti kami yang terletak diketinggian 1800 metre dari paras laut di Gunung Brinchang. Oleh kerana tempat ini dikelilingi oleh hutan awan dan tidak tercemar, hasil penyelidikan atmosfera dikawasan ini boleh dijadikan bandingan dengan kawasan lain.
Pada tahun 2017 pemonitoran kualiti udara dengan menggunakan 4 parameter atmosfera dimulakan.Ini termasuk untuk NO nitrogen oxide, NO2 nitrogen dioxide, SO2 sulphur dioxide, and NH4 amnonia. Persampelan diambil setiap bulan dan dihantar ke Met Malaysia.
Pada bulan September tahun ini , alat ‘Wet Only Rain Water Sampler’ telah di pasang ditempat ini bagi mengukur komposisi air hujan.
Gambar diatas-Seorang kakitangan Met Malaysia sedang memberi tunjuk ajar bagi Presiden kami Encik Rama untuk aktiviti persampelan serta mengendalikan penghantaran sampel ke makmal. Jadual persampelan adalah setiap hari Selasa setiap minggu.
More Collaboration with the Meteorological Department
by Cheam May Choo
On the 29th February 2020, 4 staff members from the Meteorological Department visited Bio D center to confirm that the air pollution passive sampler is functioning well. Together with another 4 staff members from the Chemistry Department and 2 Japanese experts from Asia Centre for Air Pollution Research Japan ( ACAP), they confirmed the suitability of the site for the installation of a rain gauge for the measurement of air pollution. However due to the nationwide lockdown for the control of Covid-19, things were delayed and it was only on the 1st of September 2020, that the” Wet-Only Rain Water Sampler” was set up at our mini weather station site. This instrument would be used to monitor the amount of rainfall and also the quality of rainwater to gauge the air pollution . Rainwater samples would be sent to the main Meteorological Lab in Selangor for analysis. Interestingly this instrument using the ” tipping bucket” method is one of the few remaining.
Readings would be taken every week and sent to the Meteorological Department. Above pictures show a staff from the Meteorological Department instructing Mr Rama, our president how to take the readings .
Our mini weather station continues to grow
by Cheam May Choo
Back in October 2016 a memorandum of understanding was signed with the Meteorological Department of Malaysia to cooperate in the development and support of research in Climate Monitoring and Atmospheric composition at the Biodiversity Centre in Gunung Brinchang. It would be for a period of 5 years. The findings would be shared by both parties.
A mini weather station would be set up at our Biodiversity centre, midway up Gunung Brinchang at an elevation of 1800 metres above sea level. The findings from this station will complement those from the main weather station as the current one is now surrounded by development whereas this mini weather station is surrounded by forests.
In 2017, monitoring of 4 atmospheric parameters for air quality began. They include NO nitrogen oxide, NO2 nitrogen dioxide, SO2 sulphur dioxide, and NH# amnonia. Readings are taken monthly and shared with the Meteorological Department.
The following year, a solar powered automated mini weather station for measuring more weather parameters (ie temperature, relative humidity, air pressure, wind direction, wind speed, rainfall, solar and uv radiation) was set up. This station was sponsored by Tanahmu Aplikasi Sdn Bhd, a private company based in Cameron Highlands which provides digital agricultural services. The findings will be shared with local farmers, meteorological department ,general public and Reach. It is hoped that the weather readings will aid farmers in monitoring the micro climate changes for planting crops.
Grant from the Edge Foundation for Environmental Education at the Mossy Forests of Cameron Highlands
by Cheam May Choo
We are pleased to inform that we recently received a grant from the Edge Foundation for environmental education at our mossy forests. Besides educating students on the biodiversity and importance of our highland forests, this time around we would include lessons on climate change.
The Edge Education Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the Edge Media Group. The foundation’s mission is to foster, develop and promote education of all kinds. Through the Edge KL Rat Race (which is held annually since 2000) funds are raised from corporate Malaysia and given to the various registered charities and NGOs. This year the event was held at Padang Merbok, KL on the 31st of July 2018.
Simple weather measuring instruments will be installed at our mini weather station in Gunung Brinchang. As with our earlier programmes,field trips would consist of a visit to untouched mossy forests followed by a visit to our Biodiversity Centre. where forests are being rehabilitated. Students would participate in tree planting and later brief on climate change, forest conservation and how all these are interrelated.
REACH would like to thank the Edge Education Foundation for supporting our conservation efforts.
Upcoming Activities for “Summer”
by Cheam May Choo
Although it is raining cats and dogs outside and Malaysia doesn’t have the 4 seasons, I like to think that “summer” is upon us. Come June and July, Cameron Highlands will see more visitors from the temperate countries, enjoying their summer vacation here. Bookings for local tours will rise and eateries dotting Tanah Rata and Brinchang will be busier than usual. In the mornings,4wd vehicles mainly landrovers in the tourism trade, filled with visitors will make a beeline to favourite hotspots in the mountains such as Gunung Brinchang. Jungle trails will also see more trekkers enjoying the forest. Come sundown if one strolls along Tanah Rata main street, languages heard will not only be English,Malay, Chinese and Indian but also French, German, Spanish , Japanese and a few more.
For our environmental society, we will have more requests than usual for volunteer work from visitors from the Western Countries. This year we would like to welcome 3 students from France namely Thibault, Quentin and Philippe who will be spending 2 months here for volunteer work during their summer break.
Below is our upcoming activities for the month of June and July. Visitors are welcome to join but should pay for their own transport and please contact our office at least 2 days prior.
4th June 2018-Trip to Biodiversity Centre. Facilitators: Siva and Saras
5th June 2018-Air Pollution studies at Biodiversity Centre. Facilitator: Rama
6th June 2018- Boccee Practice with Children with special needs at Cherish (sister organisation) 9 to 11.30am Facilitator: Datin Asseema
7th June 2018-Boccee Practice with Children with special needs at Cherish 9 to 11.30am Facilitator: Datin Asseema
9th June 2018-Trip to K Terla Batu Gangan Site Facilitators: Saras/Satya subject to confirmation
10th June 2018-Volleyball practice with Orang Asli Children. Facilitator: Datin Asseema
11th June 2018-Volleyball practice with Orang Asli Children. Facilitator: Datin Asseema
12th June 2018-Trip to K Terla Batu Gangan Site Facilitators: Saras/Satya . Activity: Tree planting, Putting fertilizer. Time:8am to 2 pm
19th June 2018-Trip to K Terla Batu Gangan Site Facilitators: Saras/Satya . Activity: Tree planting, Putting fertilizer, Tree labelling. Time: 8am to 2 pm
20th June 2018-Volleyball practice with Orang Asli Children. Facilitator: Datin Asseema
21st June 2018-Volleyball practice with Orang Asli Children. Facilitator: Datin Asseema
22nd June 2018- Nature walk with Orang Asli children in Sg Ubi. Facilitator: Datin Aseema
26th June 2018-Trip to K Terla Batu Gangan Site Facilitators: Saras/Satya . Activity: Tree planting, Tree labelling. Time: 8am to 2 pm
27th June 2018-Recycling talk in Sekolah Menegah Kebangsaan Kg Raja Facilitators: Datin Asseema, Puan Mazlira
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1st July 2018- Volleyball Competition Final for Girls. Facilitator: Datin Asseema
2nd July 2018-Trip to Biodiversity Centre. Facilitators: Siva and Saras
3rd July 2018-Air Pollution studies at Biodiversity Centre. Facilitators: Rama
7th July 2018-Trip to K Terla Batu Gangan Site Facilitators: Amran/Encil Embi Activity: Orchid Walk. Time: 8am to 2 pm- Subject to confirmation
8th July 2018-Volleyball Competition Final for Boys. Facilitator: Datin Asseema
10th July 2018-Trip to K Terla Batu Gangan Site Facilitator: Saras/Satya . Activity: Tree planting, Putting fertilizer, Tree labelling. Time: 8am to 2 pm
13th July 2018-Nature walk with children with special needs from Cherish.Facilitator: Saras
17th July 2018-Trip to K Terla Batu Gangan Site Facilitators: Saras/Satya . Activity: Tree planting, Nature walk Time: 8am to 2 pm
24th July 2018-Trip to K Terla Batu Gangan Site Facilitators: Saras/Satya . Activity: Tree planting, Nature walk, Time: 8am to 2 pm
Please note that some activities maybe changed without notice due to unforseen circumstances. Some activities maybe added on.