China Tuesday launched a free meteorological data website aiming to improve its on-line meteorology information sharing service.

The website, operated by the China Meteorological Administration, is part of a scientific data sharing project initiated by the Ministry of Science and Technology.

The website provides data service on ground and upper air meteorological conditions, solar radiation, meteorological satellites and scientific experiments.

The free service is available to both research organizations and individuals who register at http://data.cma.gov.cn.

Dr. Zheng Guoguang, deputy director of the China Meteorological Administration, said that meteorological data is not only a foundation for research of the climate system, but also a necessity for scientific decisions on economic and social development, national defense, environmental protection and ecological development.

It is also indispensable in people's everyday life, Zheng said.

Teng Mianzhen, an official with the Ministry of Science and Technology, said that the website is expected to become an authoritative source of meteorological information and data.

Currently, major data providers for the website include the Meteorological Information Center, the National Satellite Meteorological Center, the Chinese Academy of Meteorological Science and observatories in the Tibet Autonomous Region and provinces of Hubei, Gansu, Heilongjiang and Jiangsu.

More meteorological research organizations will be incorporated into the network to provide information and data for the free service, Teng said.

Earlier in July, the China Meteorological Administration set upa website, www.spaceweather.gov.cn, providing free services in space weather monitoring and warning to the public.

(Xinhua News Agency August 18, 2004)