From November 5 to 7, 2024, in Thanh Hoa, the General Department of Meteorology and Hydrology and the Norwegian Meteorological Institute organized the 2024 Marine Forecasting Workshop titled "Marine Hazards and Statistical Methods." This is one of the specific activities to implement the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on enhancing weather forecasting and climate services for the 2024-2028 period between the General Department of Meteorology and Hydrology and the Norwegian Meteorological Institute.
At the workshop, experts from Norway and Viet Nam shared the results of applying wave forecasting models and ocean current models in Viet Nam over the past year, experiences in implementing and enhancing training on open-source applications and using statistical methods in marine forecasting. The workshop also included a scientific session on "Flooding due to Storm Surge and Waves," as part of the national research project on "Developing a set of models and technological processes for forecasting coastal flooding due to storm surge and waves" and another scientific workshop on the Ministry-level research project: "Research on building a reanalysis data system for wave fields based on numerical models, assimilation techniques, and observational data to support wave forecasting and warnings for Viet Nam's marine areas."
Deputy Director General of the General Department of Meteorology and Hydrology Hoang Duc Cuong delivered the opening remark at the workshop.
In his speech, Deputy Director General Hoang Duc Cuong emphasized that statistical methods help us understand the past to better protect the future. "Applying statistical methods in forecasting in general, and in forecasting marine-originated natural disasters in particular, will be highly valuable for Vietnam's meteorological and oceanographic forecasting team," he shared.
At the workshop, Ms. Hilde Solbakken, Ambassador of the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Viet Nam, remarked that Norway and Viet Nam are coastal countries with great potential in the blue economy. Realizing this potential requires knowledge of oceanographic management, innovation, and cooperation between stakeholders.
Over the past decade, the cooperation between the Norwegian Meteorological Institute and the General Department of Meteorology and Hydrology has been very encouraging. Based on this, the General Department has built a solid foundation for marine forecasting models. This is crucial for disaster risk management and offshore wind energy development in Viet Nam.
Ms. Hilde Solbakken, Ambassador of the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Viet Nam, speaking at the workshop.
Over time, the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation, and the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Vietnam have actively supported the cooperation between the General Department of Meteorology and Hydrology and the Norwegian Meteorological Institute, focusing on sharing experiences and applying new technologies to test wave and current forecasting; training and capacity building for marine forecasters at the General Department.
Delegates attending the workshop
Based on this collaboration, 15 papers and presentations have been published and shared at international journals and conferences. Through short- and medium-term training courses in Norway and Vietnam, the Vietnamese team has directly applied the knowledge and skills gained in their daily operations at the General Department of Meteorology and Hydrology.
In 2023, the General Department of Meteorology and Hydrology of Viet Nam and the Norwegian Meteorological Institute continued to sign the MoU on Enhancing Weather Forecasting and Climate Services for the 2024-2028 period.