When the blizzard on December 7, 2001 had caused several hours? traffic jam in Beijing, people began to realize the impact of weather on their daily life. Meanwhile, businessmen dare not underrate the impact weather has brought to their economic activities. For instance, with the changes of temperature in this summer, the sales market of air conditioners has surged and receded repeatedly. Since the general weather forecast cannot satisfy special requirements of certain industries, the professional meteorological observatories are now providing users with special personal and professional weather services.

According to Ding Deping, head of Beijing Professional Meteorological Observatory, professional meteorological observatories charge a low rate for their services. A copy of monthly weather forecast for a customer costs only 150 yuan (US$18). In fact, such personalized service needs a lot of information, and sometimes special observatories have to be set up. The current charge is compensatory by nature and has not been operated on a market basis. The charge is even not enough to cover the cost of labor. In China, the meteorological observatory is still a public service which mainly depends on the state investment.

In 1985, along with the economic development, Chinese meteorological observatories began providing paid professional services under the approval of the State Council. Starting with agriculture and the industries of construction and storage, their services have expanded to dozens of industries including transportation, power supply, chemical industry, etc. Personalized weather service has gained more and more attention from people from all walks of life.

According to Li Xiuchi, head of Policies and Regulations Department of China Meteorological Administration, people engaged in economic activities are more weather-conscious nowadays. Weather exerts significant impact on a country?s economy. It is becoming more and more obvious that abnormal weathers cause damages while useful weather information helps generate economic benefits. With the improvement in weather monitoring and forecasting, dozens of other trades that are easily affected by weather, including air conditioner, garment and beverage, have asked for professional and personal weather information services.

According to Delphi Method, the ratio of meteorological input and output is 1 to 98. Li Xiuchi said many examples have shown that commercial enterprises can achieve great economic benefits through the utilization of weather information. However, currently, the weather service in China generates little economic benefits. The relations between weather and social economy can be concluded as the following:

First, people use weather information to develop social economy and engage in economic activities according to weather conditions.

Second, people use weather forecast to seek advantages and avoid disadvantages as well as to reduce the economic loss caused by abnormal weathers.

Third, some industries use professional weather service directly in their manufacture and business activities to promote economic benefits.

With people?s increasing demands for weather information, meteorological departments are required to provide related services. Due to their specialties, some industries and trades need all-day-around and regular weather service. The requirement for high-quality and specific weather information service has promoted the development of weather industry, said Li Xiuchi.

It is reported that some meteorological departments have started weather short message service, but it remains a small scale. Li Xiuchi said although the professional paid services carried out currently cannot be called a ?weather economy? or a ?weather industry,? they are to develop into a weather information industry in the future.

However, some insiders point out that there is still a big gap between China?s weather service and its customers? requirements. Each industry has its own particular and professional feature and should be provided with specific weather products. Compared with the situation in many other countries, there is still room for us to improve and catch up in this field, especially in market service and the training of personnel.

According to Li Xiuchi, although China did not promise to open its weather service market during the negotiation of WTO entry, as the country?s economy further develops, China will eventually open its commercial weather service market at the right time and in a proper way.

(china.org.cn by Wang Qian, August 15, 2002)