Introducing a set of lightning detection devices from Finland, Shanghai is building an automatic lightning and thunder alarm system, Eastday.com reported today.
The devices, worth more than 3 million yuan (US$366,000), will help to forecast and locate lightning strikes three hours in advance, with an error of less than 500 meters.
Adopting the most advanced technique in the world to track lightning and thunders, the devices have been installed in Nanhui District, Chongming Island and Haiyan County of Zhejiang Province, forming a triangle-shaped round-the-clock alarm system.
When the system is put into use, Shanghai and its nearby sea areas, including the Yangshan deep-water port, which is under construction, will be under watch.
Lightening and thunders are frequent in Shanghai during the summer season and often result in damages to local people. An annual 300 million yuan of insurance is estimated to pay for these damages in the city.
(Eastday.com August 28, 2003)
