The Beijing Olympic torch will be carried to the summit of Mt. Qomolangma on a day with suitable weather in May. Extreme weather conditions will be a key consideration for officials as they arrange for the torch to be taken to the summit. A professional weather service team set up by the China Meteorological Administration or CMA is at the Base Camp of Mt. Qomolangma. Their job is to provide meteorological support for this unprecedented torch relay.

Our reporter Li Dong has the details.

Reporter:

Xu Xiaofeng is the deputy director of CMA. He says CMA started preparing for the torch relay at the summit of Mt. Qomolangma when China won the bid to host the 2008 Olympic Games seven years ago. More than 30 leading meteorological experts from China have been stationed at the 5,200-meter-high Base Camp for a month.

"They work really hard. I may leave soon, but they will stay here for a long time. They shouldered so much responsibility and overcame so many difficulties to help China realize its Olympic dream. The dream we Chinese have cherished and looked forward to for so many years."

Xu Xiaofeng says that meteorological departments in Beijing are further boosting the work of the experts at the Base Camp by providing them with prompt and efficient support.

"The National Meteorological Center, National Climate Center, our probe center, as well as our information center have all been working together. With their efforts, we can decide on a relatively safe time for the mountain climbers to carry out their torch relay at Mt. Qomolangma."

The meteorological support team has been divided into 4 teams: probe, forecast, communication and logistics. Among them, the probe squad is equipped with the most advanced technology. It has set up meteorological stations between altitudes of a 5,200 meters and 6,500 meters to collect data on wind speed, wind direction, air pressure and humidity.
CMA's Chief Forecaster He Lifu says that the meteorological support team will provide detailed and timely meteorological information to the mountaineering teams.

"We will give them detailed explanations if they have any questions. In our weekly service report, we also provide mountaineers information about temperature, humidity, wind direction and speed, and visibility. If a major change in weather patterns take place, we report it to our headquarters."

To ensure the success of the Olympic torch relay in Mt. Qomolangma, He Lifu and his teammates are putting in great efforts to collect data, perform analysis, and draw diagrams. He Lifu says that their job gives them a strong sense of duty.

"The Olympic flame reaching the summit of Mt. Qomolangma is a pledge we Chinese made to the world. It also shows the spirit of our nationality. So, CMA and all of us attach great importance to the meteorological support work."

Li Dong, CRI News.