Accra, March 24, GNA - Mr Amos Narh, Principal Meteorologist in-charge of Meteorological Services Department at the Kotoka International Airport, has observed that activities of the World Meteorological Organisation(WMO) over the years, had improved weather forecasts in the world.

He said in the past, weather forecasts could be made 24 to 34 hours ahead of time but that currently, it could be made seven days (168 hours) ahead for the safety of mankind. Mr Narh was speaking to the Ghana News Agency on the celebration of World Meteorological Day which fell on Tuesday, March 23. The celebration is under the theme, "Sixty Years of Service for your Safety and Well Being."

Mr Narh noted that the improvement of weather forecast systems over the years had greatly reduced the impact of natural disasters, adding "Early warnings of approaching storms and hurricanes have saved lots of life and property".

On threats to the atmosphere, he said in 1975, the WMO issued a warning on the effects of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) which depleted the ozone layer. Mr Narh said ultra-violet rays from the sun which were harmful to the skin, were prevented by the ozone layer from hitting the skin hard enough to be harmful. Unfortunately, he said CFCs were being released into the atmosphere leading to the depletion of the ozone layer. Mr Narh recalled that the WMO, in 1976, issued a strong statement on global warming and predicted that the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere would result in the rise of the temperature of the earth's atmosphere. He explained that this was what was being experienced currently as global warming.

Mr Narh noted that the effects of global warming could be mitigated if proactive measures were adopted world-wide, such as a-forestation and a reduction in the release of CFCs into the atmosphere. "If no action is taken, there would be very dire consequences for our planet," Mr. Narh cautioned.