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Industry
has also learned to appreciate meteorological information. The air conditioner
sector uses temperature and humidity information to design the most appropriate
cooling system for buildings and offices based on the climatological conditions,
the use of the buildings or offices and the expected traffic. The warmer the
weather, the heat generation expected in the building, the more opening and
closing of windows and doors, and the number of people expected in the office
all determine how big a unit should be installed and consequently how much
energy will be expended in keeping the room comfortable. In
Barbados sunshine recorders and radiometers provided data, which showed that
solar radiation was a reliable source of energy, and a profitable solar water
heater industry emerged.
New
technology applied to meteorological data has improved the efficiency with which
data can be processed and hence facilitated the generation of new products. The
paths of hurricanes can now be plotted on GIS systems and wind and storm surge
hazard maps generated. These can be used for land use planning and as input in
design criteria. Potential homeowners can see the level of risk to which they
are exposed and can determine the level of protection they need. Information
that was not quite obvious shows up. For example, while most people appreciate
the fact that hurricanes lose strength when they move inland because of
friction, hilly areas inland can experience stronger winds than coastal
locations on lower terrain. Proper use of this information can be used by
architects, engineers, contractors, developers, financial institutions and
insurance agents to make profitable decisions and reduce losses.
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