On September 7, 2017, an application from Madeira Autonomous Region was approved, following the analysis and opinion of the Regional Development Institute, IP-RAM, as the Intermediate Organization of the Operational Programme for Sustainability and Efficient Use of Resources (PO SEUR).

The project "Thunderstorm Detectors Network in Madeira Archipelago", under the responsibility of the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere, IP, is the implementation of a network of thunderstorm detectors in the RAM, which will support and improve surveillance and forecasting the short-term state of the weather, with an impact on the safety of the population and the national economy and on obtaining important data for a more detailed knowledge of the climate in RAM and its evolution in the face of climate change adaptation.

The main objective of this implementation is the collection of information, obtained and visualized in real time, which will allow to support and significantly improve the forecast of the state of the weather in very short term and in particular, the meteorological surveillance and the climatologist study on the density and characteristics useful for the prevention of atmospheric electrical discharges, as an alert to the possibility of forest fires and to support air and sea traffic control, just to set some examples. The network of detectors in conjunction with the existing network in the Mainland will allow coverage of much of the territory and better surveillance of the region between Madeira, Selvagens Islands and the Continent. This network will also provide important data for a more detailed knowledge on the climate in Madeira Archipelago, as well as its evolution, given the changes in the climate that occur, strengthening the capacity to adapt to climate change, making an important contribution to the research in this field.

This operation is being carried out in the context of promoting adaptation to climate change and risk prevention and management and investment support for adaptation to climate change, including ecosystem-based approaches and will have a total cost of EUR 392 000, with a community contribution of EUR 294 000.

It should be noted that, to date, 33 projects under PO SEUR for the Autonomous Region of Madeira have been approved, totaling € 167 million, with a Community contribution of € 124 million, equivalent to 42% of the value of the Madeira Program 14-20 (EUR 295.5 million).

For more information on the projects approved in the RAM, you can consult: List of Operations Approved by PO SEUR in the Autonomous Region of Madeira.

Also, be aware of all the applications approved by PO SEUR up to now in Applications - Approved Applications tab.

Source: IDR - Regional Development Institute, IP-RAM