Chongqing - Eight weather stations from China have recently been certified in the first group of the World Meteorological Organization's 75-year station category of centennial weather stations. Chongqing's Shapingba National Baseline Meteorological Station, established in 1934, is the city's sole representative. 

90 years of history

The Shapingba National Baseline Meteorological Station boasts a rich 90-year history. The Shapingba Meteorological Historical and Cultural Museum proudly showcases a timeline, notable meteorologists, historical photos, and yellowed documents that narrate the station's storied past.

The Shapingba Weather Station boasts a rich 90-year history. (Photo/Chen Yi)

Founded in 1934 on the campus of Chongqing University, the original weather station was part of the university’s physics department and equipped with various meteorological instruments. By July 1 of that year, the station began recording data on rainfall, air pressure, and temperature. It was officially established in 1941 and operated jointly by the Central Meteorological Bureau and Chongqing University, with only three staff members. The station moved to Shapingba in 1942, and by 1943, all observation equipment was relocated to the current site.

The station's observations have been continuous despite its humble beginnings, including a makeshift observatory on a high slope and a borrowed air raid shelter now converted into a meteorological museum. This uninterrupted record of observations is a significant factor in its recent recognition.

According to Tang Xiaoping, deputy director of the Shapingba Meteorological Bureau, the station's adherence to strict standards, including maintaining complete observational data and operating for over 75 years, played a crucial role in its selection. The evaluation criteria emphasized the preservation of data integrity and compliance with meteorological quality control procedures.

Enhanced by digital technology

Not far from the museum, a modern meteorological observation site is visible. Sensors measuring air pressure, temperature, humidity, and other parameters are neatly arranged, and screens display real-time weather conditions.

Chongqing's Shapingba Weather Station. (Photo/Chen Yi)

"Currently, the Shapingba National Baseline Meteorological Station is the most comprehensive observation station in our city, with 18 observation categories and the only high-altitude observation station in the city. This display shows real-time data from our observation equipment and global temperature and precipitation trends over the past century," said Tang Xiaoping, deputy director and senior engineer of the Shapingba Meteorological Station.

In recent years, digital advancements have transformed the station's operations. The Shapingba Meteorological Bureau, in collaboration with emergency management and water resources departments, developed the "Shapingba Flood Control Decision Support System." 

The system integrates 41 types of data from 12 departments, optimizes 17 flood control tasks, accurately predicts inundation areas, intelligently generates evacuation plans, automatically issues evacuation orders, and provides real-time disaster scene images, cutting command and dispatch times by 50%.

Additionally, the Shapingba Meteorological Bureau is working with various departments to provide meteorological support for the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, flood control services in the Jialing River Basin, and monitoring and warning for urban flood-prone areas.

To help more citizens understand meteorology, the Shapingba Meteorological Bureau is creating a smart meteorological park in Chongqing. The first phase, the riverside section, is now open to the public. It features exhibitions on Chongqing's wartime meteorological culture, the Shapingba 24 Solar Terms Scenic Wall, real meteorological radar equipment, and VR experiences of artificial rain.

Looking ahead, the bureau plans to build a national climate observatory and advance the smart meteorological park. "Being recognized as one of the first 75-year-old weather stations motivates us to enhance meteorological monitoring, forecasting, and data utilization. Our goal is to support disaster prevention, climate adaptation, and related scientific advancements," said Tang.