Vietnam: What is hydrometeorological monitoring?

Vietnam: What is hydrometeorological monitoring? (Internet image)

1. What is hydrometeorological monitoring?

 Hydrometeorological monitoring includes observations and systematical measurements of indicators of conditions, phenomena, developments of the atmosphere and water on earth.

(Clause 5, Article 3 of Law on hydrometeorology 2015)

2. Requirements for hydrometeorological monitoring in Vietnam

Pursuant to Clause 1, Article 13 of the Law on hydrometeorology 2015, the requirements for hydrometeorological monitoring include:

- Monitoring should be carried out with accuracy, continuity and uniformity according to technical regulations and professional processes;

- Result of monitoring should ensure representation, objective reflection of natural conditions, current conditions of hydrometeorological phenomena in the areas where the station is located;

- Monitoring information, data must be examined and assessed for quality.

3. Subject matters of hydrometeorological monitoring in Vietnam

Pursuant to Clause 2, Article 13 of the Law on hydrometeorology 2015, the subject matters of hydrometeorological monitoring:

- Subject matters of hydrometeorological monitoring shall be specifically determined for each hydrometeorological station;

- The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shall define details of monitoring for stations belonging to national hydrometeorological station network.

- Ministries, sectors and localities, organizations and individuals shall define subject matters of monitoring for special-purpose hydrometeorological stations within management;

- Hydrometeorological stations broadcasting international news, exchanging information and data with foreign or international organizations or having bilateral or multilateral cooperation agreements shall perform other monitoring tasks under international treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a signatory.

4. Facilities requiring hydrometeorological observation in Vietnam

Pursuant to Article 3 of Decree 38/2016/ND-CP amended by Decree 48/2020/ND-CP, facilities requiring hydrometeorological observation according to Clause 3 Article 13 of the Law on Hydrometeorology include:

- Civil airports;

- Reservoirs and dams of extreme importance or of large or medium size classified according to the Government’s regulations on dam and reservoir safety management and reservoirs regulated by operation procedures for river basin inter-reservoirs (hereinafter collectively referred to as "dams and reservoirs");

- Class I and class II seaports classified according to list of Vietnam’s seaports and wharves thereof published by the Ministry of Transport.

In case a seaport has multiple wharves, the director of the maritime administration thereof shall take charge and gather opinions from the natural resources and environment authority and hydrometeorology authority of the locality where the seaport is located to designate one or more than one wharf representative of the hydrometeorological conditions of the seaport for hydrometeorological observation and provision of hydrometeorological information and data in accordance with regulations of this Decree. The remaining wharves may use and share information from such observation and shall contribute equally to such observation and information and data provision.

For wharves of military ports, hydrometeorological observation and provision of hydrometeorological information and data shall be carried out as prescribed by the Ministry of National Defense;

- Bridges with a clearance of at least 500 meters;

- Radio/television towers open to visitors;

- Tourist aerial tramways;

- National parks;

- Expressways running through areas frequently affected by extreme weather, which are identified based on the natural risk zones published by Vietnam Meteorological Hydrological Administration and updated every 3 years;

- General inland ports of class I or higher;

- Specialized facilities, including islands of the Spratlys, DK1 rigs and military airbases for national defense and security purpose.

Note:

- Owners of dams and reservoirs, management bodies of national parks and national defense and security facilities, and investors or operators of airports, ports, bridges, radio/television towers, tourist aerial tramways, expressways and inland ports mentioned in Clause 1 Article 1 of Decree 38/2016/ND-CP (hereinafter collectively referred to as “facility owners”) shall ensure funding for hydrometeorological observation and provision of hydrometeorological information and data according to regulations of Decree 38/2016/ND-CP.

- 03 years after the entry into force of Decree 38/2016/ND-CP, if necessary, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shall review and propose amendment to the types of facilities requiring hydrometeorological observation and provision of hydrometeorological information and data performed according to regulations of Decree 38/2016/ND-CP to the Government for consideration.

Ngoc Nhi

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