Fermanagh man in breakthrough for better weather forecasts

Editorial Department • Published 13 Aug 2009 09:00 0 Comments

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As part of extensive research carried out by Queen's University Belfast, Fermanagh man Raymond Dickie and his colleague Robert Cahill have lead a scientific breakthrough, which will lead to better and more accurate global weather forecasting in the future.

Developed by the Queen's University Belfast's Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (ECIT), their invention known as a dual polarized Frequency Selective Surface filter, is set to lead the way in producing better and more accurate weather forecasts and to create a better understanding of climate change.

Local man Raymond Dickie from Tempo explained how the devices would help to create a more comprehensive analysis of conditions in the earth's atmosphere than has ever been possible. He added,"we will enable complex imaging of clouds to be undertaken for the first time at very short wavelengths."

These new filters have resolved a previous problem, as Mr. Dickie explained.

"Up to now, spaceborne remote sensing instruments have only been capable of separating either the vertically or horizontally polarized components of naturally occuring thermal emissions from gases in the Earth's atmosphere - but not both together at the same time. The invention of this new filter resolves this problem."

Mr. Dickie worked in the family quarrying business in Tempo before he joined the high frequency electronics research group at Queen's in 2001. He completed a doctorate in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, specialising in Frequency Selective Surface technology and was appointed senior research engineer in 2007. He told The Impartial Reporter this week of his pride in developing the complex device and added that he was happy it would have a positive effect on the people in his home county.

"I'm proud of the project and of the fact that it will make a difference to the people of Fermanagh, especially for the farming community who rely so heavily on accurate weather forecasting."

Robert Cahill, another member of the research team, also said of the project; "As a result of the new filter, scientists will gain access to completely new data on a range of phenomenon including ozone depletion and the size of water particles in cirrus clouds. This in turn will enable more accurate global weather forecasts to be compiled and will provide important new insights into the climate change."

The filters, which measure just 30mm in diameter and 1/100mm thick, will be installed in instruments currently being developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) for meteorological satellites, which are to be launched between 2018 and 2020.

The project is the result of a £1.2 million investment in Queen's University and has taken the team over 10 years to develop.

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 13 Aug 09

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