Climate Exchange

The parameters used were identified with specific reference to

local climatic conditions. Any evaluation of climate conditions

cannot be defined solely in terms of outside air temperature. Solar

radiation, wind and humidity also need to be factored into the

equation. Pioneering architectural and climate engineering strate-

gies have been created and applied.

The cooling strategy for Qatar 2022 ensures comfort for all, with

innovative fully solar powered cooling systems keeping the tourna-

ment’s carbon footprint low and the comfort high. The strategy has

three main elements:

• Focusing on low energy concepts to create a thermal comfort

• Apply innovative green highly effective cooling technology

• Produce electrical energy by integrated photovoltaic systems.

Enhanced outdoor comfort is achieved through a combination of

passive and active strategies. Passive strategies involve architectural

design including sun shading and wind protection. Active strate-

gies involve climate engineering, including night radiation, radiation

cooling and soft conditioning.

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ransport

and

nfrastructure

We are now continuing with the preparations and

planning for the event, from structural works to envi-

ronmental aspects and forecasts, and weather and

climatological reports for players, participants and

visitors – not to mention the huge project of adapting

and changing the weather by providing air condition-

ing for the football grounds and the areas around them.

QMD gained valuable experience for the World Cup

project during the 16th Asian Games in 2006 in Doha

and the Arab Olympic games in 2010. This and the

strategies developed for 2022 can serve as valuable

models for other countries.

Other specific services provided include climatologi-

cal data and analysis and special weather reports for the

Doha Olympic Committee teams, and services for the new

Doha International Airport steering committee, including

data on temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and

direction, rainfall, visibility, cloud cover and wind gust, in

addition to long term climatological reports.

QMD regularly supports contractors for large infrastruc-

ture project, providing climatological data in the first

stages of designing their projects, including towering

buildings, roads, planning of towns and factories. In most

cases, QMD continues to provide support throughout the

course of a project, remaining in contact with project teams

throughout. When required, QMD can establish special

offices or stations at the sites until the end of the project.

Research initiatives

QMD has made a significant contribution in the

research field with universities and institutes. We

recently partnered with the Qatar Environment

and Energy Research Institute (a member of Qatar

Foundation) in a major research project about heat

hazard modelling for predicting heat waves in Qatar

during next five years. This will show how they affect

people, and helping health authorities. In addition,

QMD is involved in an ongoing project with the Qatar

National Food Security Programme in a study of an

extensive plan for food security in Qatar.

The QMD Climate section provides customers from

Government departments, companies, contractors and

other sectors with all types of climatological services

and requested specified reports alongside the routine

climatological summaries.

The Forecast and Analysis section is an integral

part of QMD, with an enormous responsibility as it

raises awareness of the quality of the services we must

provide and the wide spectrum of customers we serve.

The responsibility of providing accurate and true fore-

casts to our customers is of the utmost importance

for the section. In addition to providing forecasts to

the various Government entities in the State of Qatar

(military and civilian), and for the aeronautical serv-

ices (all the various airlines that pass over Qatar skies,

in addition to our national airline, Qatar Airways), the

section also provides forecasts to the private sector –

and of course, to the ordinary citizens and expatriates

as well as visitors to Qatar.

QMD was involved in all stages of preparing the bid to host the Fifa World Cup 2022,

and is continuing to support the project to ensure comfort for visitors at all stadiums

and related facilities

Images: Qatar 2022