Circular No. 13/2023/TT-BTNMT on technical regulations for monitoring and providing meteorological and hydrological information and data for specialized meteorological and hydrological stations

CIRCULAR

Technical regulations on monitoring and providing meteorological and hydrological observation information and data for specialized meteorological and hydrological stations

Pursuant to the Law on Meteorology and Hydrology dated November 23, 2015;

Pursuant to Decree No. 38/2016/NĐ-CP dated May 15, 2016 of the Government detailing certain provisions of the Law on Meteorology and Hydrology;

Pursuant to Decree No. 48/2020/NĐ-CP dated April 15, 2020 of the Government amending and supplementing some articles of Decree No. 38/2016/NĐ-CP dated May 15, 2016 of the Government detailing certain provisions of the Law on Meteorology and Hydrology;

Pursuant to Decree No. 68/2022/NĐ-CP dated September 22, 2022 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment;

At the proposal of the Director General of the National Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting, the Head of the Science and Technology Department and the Head of the Legal Department;

The Minister of Natural Resources and Environment promulgates this Circular stipulating technical regulations on monitoring and providing meteorological and hydrological observation information and data for specialized meteorological and hydrological stations.

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

This Circular stipulates technical regulations on monitoring and providing meteorological and hydrological observation information and data for specialized meteorological and hydrological stations.

Article 2. Applicability

This Circular applies to agencies, organizations, and individuals related to the activities of monitoring and providing meteorological and hydrological observation information and data from specialized meteorological and hydrological stations.

Article 3. Explanation of Terms

In this Circular, the following terms are understood as follows:

1. Specialized meteorological and hydrological station is a place selected for construction and installation of one or more monitoring facilities for meteorological and hydrological factors according to specific requirements and purposes of ministries, sectors, localities, organizations, and individuals who build, manage, and operate such stations.

2. Facilities subject to meteorological and hydrological monitoring are those specified in Clause 1, Article 3 of Decree No. 38/2016/NĐ-CP dated May 15, 2016 of the Government detailing certain provisions of the Law on Meteorology and Hydrology (Decree No. 38/2016/NĐ-CP), amended and supplemented at Clause 1, Article 1 of Decree No. 48/2020/NĐ-CP dated April 15, 2020 of the Government amending and supplementing some articles of Decree No. 38/2016/NĐ-CP dated May 15, 2016 of the Government detailing certain provisions of the Law on Meteorology and Hydrology (Decree No. 48/2020/NĐ-CP).

3. Meteorological and hydrological measuring instruments are technical means used to measure meteorological and hydrological factors.

4. FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is a protocol for transferring files from one computer to another through TCP/IP networks or the Internet.

5. The time for monitoring and providing meteorological and hydrological information and data in this Circular is based on Hanoi time (GMT+7).

Chapter II

TECHNICAL REGULATIONS

Section 1SPECIALIZED METEOROLOGICAL AND HYDROLOGICAL MONITORING

Article 4. Monitoring Content

1. Minimum monitoring content for each type of facility subject to meteorological and hydrological monitoring shall be as follows:

a) Civil airports monitor according to the regulations of the Ministry of Transport;

b) Important special dams, large dams, medium dams monitor according to the Government's regulations on dam safety management; dams and reservoirs within the scope regulated by the inter-reservoir operation procedures monitor according to the inter-reservoir operation procedures;

c) Ports monitor wind direction and speed, sea level, waves, and long-range visibility over the sea with a frequency of four times a day at 01:00, 07:00, 13:00, and 19:00;

d) Bridges with navigable spans of 500 meters or more monitor wind direction and speed with a frequency of four times a day at 01:00, 07:00, 13:00, and 19:00;

đ) Radio and television transmission towers combined with tourist and commercial services on the tower monitor wind direction and speed with a frequency of three times a day at 07:00, 13:00, and 19:00;

e) Cable cars serving tourism activities monitor wind direction and speed with an hourly frequency during operating hours;

g) National parks monitor rainfall, temperature, air humidity, wind direction and speed with a frequency of four times a day at 01:00, 07:00, 13:00, and 19:00;

h) Expressways monitor according to national technical standards for expressway traffic surveillance systems;

i) Comprehensive inland waterway ports of Class I or higher monitor long-range visibility, water levels, wind direction and speed with a frequency of four times a day at 01:00, 07:00, 13:00, and 19:00;

k) Facilities of strategic nature including islands in the Spratly archipelago, service and technical structures (DK1) and military airports serving defense and security purposes monitor according to the regulations of the Ministry of Defense.

2. When there are weather and hydrological forecast warnings issued by the National Weather and Hydrological Forecasting System that may directly affect the province or city where the facility is located, depending on the purpose and requirements of using the facility, the authorized person or organization or individual building and managing the facility decides:

a) To increase the monitoring frequency to once every hour for facilities specified in points c, d, đ, g, and i of Clause 1 of this Article;

b) To increase the monitoring frequency to every 30 minutes during operating hours for facilities specified in point e of Clause 1 of this Article.

3. The owner of the facility subject to meteorological and hydrological monitoring must implement the monitoring content as prescribed in Clauses 1 and 2 of this Article. For organizations or individuals establishing specialized meteorological and hydrological stations for their own needs not included in facilities subject to meteorological and hydrological monitoring, they decide on the monitoring content suitable for their needs.

Article 5. Monitoring Methods

1. For dedicated meteorological and hydrological stations belonging to projects required to monitor meteorological and hydrological conditions as specified in points b, c, d, đ, e, g, and i of Clause 1, Article 4 of this Circular, the project owner shall apply monitoring methods suitable for the equipment and technology used but must ensure the accuracy of monitored factors according to technical regulations and national technical standards on meteorological and hydrological monitoring.

2. For projects specified in points a, h, and k of Clause 1, Article 4 of this Circular, the project owner shall comply with the provisions of the relevant ministries and sectors.

3. For dedicated meteorological and hydrological stations established by organizations or individuals for specific needs not included in projects required to monitor meteorological and hydrological conditions, the station owners may independently determine the appropriate monitoring methods.

Article 6. Projects and Meteorological and Hydrological Measurement Instruments

1. Construction, Design, and Installation of Meteorological and Hydrological Projects: The owner of dedicated meteorological and hydrological projects shall choose construction, design, and installation methods based on the purpose and requirements for utilizing meteorological and hydrological information and data, ensuring technical corridors and possibly applying national technical standards on meteorological and hydrological monitoring projects.

2. Selection and Calibration of Meteorological and Hydrological Measurement Instruments:

a) The owner of meteorological and hydrological monitoring projects may select measurement instruments based on the purpose and requirements for utilizing meteorological and hydrological information and data, possibly applying national technical standards on meteorological and hydrological monitoring.

b) Calibration and verification of meteorological and hydrological measurement instruments shall be carried out in accordance with Article 19 of the Law on Meteorology and Hydrology.

Article 7. Density of Monitoring Stations

1. For projects required to monitor meteorological and hydrological conditions as specified in points b, c, d, đ, e, g, and i of Clause 1, Article 4 of this Circular:

a) Dams, Reservoirs: The density of rain monitoring stations within the watershed shall not exceed 100 km2/station; the distance between adjacent stations shall not exceed 15 km;

b) National Parks: The density of meteorological stations within the national park shall not exceed 700 km2/station; the distance between adjacent stations shall not exceed 30 km;

c) Bridges with navigable spans of 500 meters or more; radio and television transmission towers combined with tourist and commercial activities; cable cars serving tourism activities; ports belonging to Class I and II seaports and inland waterway ports of Class I or higher shall not apply the regulation on the density of monitoring stations but shall be determined by the project investor or the organization or individual operating the facility, ensuring the monitoring positions according to Article 4 of Decree No. 38/2016/NĐ-CP amended and supplemented by Clause 2, Article 1 of Decree No. 48/2020/NĐ-CP and Clause 3, Article 8 of this Circular.

2. For projects not included in those required to monitor meteorological and hydrological conditions, the authorized person, organization, or individual shall determine the density of dedicated meteorological and hydrological monitoring stations based on the purpose and need for utilizing the project.

Article 8. Selection of Representative Natural Conditions for Meteorological and Hydrological Monitoring

1. The selection of representative natural conditions for meteorological and hydrological monitoring shall not apply to projects that have specifically defined station density at point a and point b of Clause 1, Article 7 of this Circular and projects that have specifically defined monitoring positions according to Article 4 of Decree No. 38/2016/NĐ-CP amended and supplemented by Clause 2, Article 1 of Decree No. 48/2020/NĐ-CP.

2. Selection of representative areas for monitoring at seaports and inland waterway ports of Class I or higher:

a) The representative area for water level monitoring is the water area within the port where observed water levels have high similarity and similar impact on port operations;

b) The representative area for wind direction and speed monitoring is the airspace within the port where observed wind direction and speed values have high similarity and similar impact on port operations;

c) The representative area for sea wave monitoring is the sea area within the seaport where observed wave height, wave direction, and wave period values have high similarity and similar impact on port operations;

d) The representative area for distant sea view monitoring is the airspace within the port where observed distant sea views have high similarity and similar impact on port operations;

đ) Based on the provisions of points a, b, c, and d of this clause and the purpose and need for using information and data, the project owner shall determine the representative areas for meteorological and hydrological monitoring. Each port area may have one or more representative areas for each monitoring factor.

3. If there are multiple representative areas for a single monitoring factor, the project owner must delineate these representative areas to define the boundaries of port spaces with different meteorological and hydrological characteristics and impacts on port operations. Based on topographical conditions, physical features, statistical results, survey results, and monitoring results, the project owner will conduct representative area demarcation, announce representative areas for each factor, organize monitoring of factors according to representative areas; each representative area must install at least one monitoring station.

4. In cases where a seaport has multiple berths, the selection of representative areas for the seaport shall be organized by the Director of the Maritime Port Authority to determine representative areas, conduct monitoring, provide information and data, and share the exploitation of information and data for berth project owners within the seaport according to point c, Clause 1, Article 3 of Decree No. 38/2016/NĐ-CP amended and supplemented by Clause 1, Article 1 of Decree No. 48/2020/NĐ-CP.

Section 2 PROVISION OF INFORMATION AND DATA FROM SPECIALIZED METEOROLOGICAL AND HYDROLOGICAL MONITORING

Article 9. Content of Information and Data Provision

1. The owner, direct management organization, project investor, or individual or organization operating specialized hydro-meteorological works shall provide information and data on hydro-meteorological observations according to Article 5 of Decree No. 38/2016/NĐ-CP amended and supplemented in Clause 3, Article 1 of Decree No. 48/2020/NĐ-CP, including: station name, station code, station address, station location (coordinates); observation or calculation results of factors at specialized hydro-meteorological stations. Provide once for the unit receiving information and data on station code, station name, station address, station location, and must promptly notify any changes.

2. Requirements for Providing Observation Information at Specialized Hydro-Meteorological Stations: The content, structure, and type of hydro-meteorological information and data provided to the receiving agency shall be implemented according to Appendices 01, 02, and 03 issued together with Circular No. 40/2017/TT-BTNMT dated October 23, 2017, of the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment stipulating technical standards for hydro-meteorological observation, investigation, survey, marine meteorology, air environment, and water quality data.

Article 10. File Format of Information and Data

1. The file format of information and data of specialized hydro-meteorological stations belonging to works required to conduct hydro-meteorological observations shall be implemented according to Appendix I issued together with this Circular.

2. The file format of information and data of specialized hydro-meteorological stations serving specific needs of organizations and individuals not included in works required to conduct hydro-meteorological observations shall be implemented according to Appendix II issued together with this Circular.

3. In cases where specialized hydro-meteorological stations use their own information and data formats, they must have a notification document describing the structure and format of the information and data at the station for the receiving unit to know and coordinate in receiving.

Article 11. Methods of Providing Information and Data

1. The provision of hydro-meteorological observation information and data shall be carried out according to Clause 4, Article 5 of Decree No. 38/2016/NĐ-CP amended and supplemented in Clause 3, Article 1 of Decree No. 48/2020/NĐ-CP, including:

a) For the method of providing hydro-meteorological observation information and data through the Internet, it shall be implemented according to one of the following methods: Using the File Transfer Protocol (FTP) to transmit hydro-meteorological observation information and data or via email provided by the General Meteorological Department. The owner, direct management organization, project investor, or individual or organization operating the works specified in Clause 1, Article 1 of Decree No. 48/2020/NĐ-CP, and other entities that are owners of specialized hydro-meteorological stations have the responsibility to coordinate and unify with the information and data receiving agency (via email) to obtain the IP address, server configuration, and guidance for connecting to the data transmission system;

b) For the method of providing hydro-meteorological observation information and data in written form or on physical media, it shall be submitted directly to the information and data receiving agency. The submission form for information and data shall be implemented according to Appendix III issued together with this Circular.

2. During the process of providing information and data, in case of incidents, the owner of the work must take proactive measures to resolve them and notify the information and data receiving agency in writing or by email about the cause and remedial measures for the incident, clearly stating the implementation plan and time frame for resolving the interrupted incident.

Article 12. Information and Data Collection Agencies

1. The General Department of Meteorology and Hydrology under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shall collect specialized meteorological and hydrological observation information and data for the national weather forecasting and warning system and the national meteorological and hydrological database.

2. Provincial natural resources and environment management agencies shall collect specialized meteorological and hydrological observation information and data within their respective jurisdictions.

3. Information and data collection agencies shall be responsible for:

a) Providing and publicly disclosing on their electronic information websites the addresses, methods, frequencies, electronic information portals, or other communication means;

b) Organizing the collection of information and data, checking the list, quantity, structure, format, and security level of the information and data;

c) Immediately notifying organizations and individuals providing the information when they discover that the information and data do not meet safety requirements, are not provided on time, do not conform to the specified structure and format, or do not match the designated categories and quantities according to regulations;

d) Annually, before May 31, publicly disclosing on the electronic information website of the information and data collection agency the list of organizations and individuals who have provided and the results of collecting specialized meteorological and hydrological observation information and data from the previous year.

Chapter III

IMPLEMENTATION

Article 13. Effective Date

This Circular takes effect from December 1, 2023, and replaces Circular No. 30/2018/TT-BTNMT dated December 26, 2018, issued by the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment regarding technical standards for the collection and provision of meteorological and hydrological information and data for specialized meteorological and hydrological stations.

1. The Minister, Heads of Ministries equivalent to ministries, Heads of government agencies, Chairmen of provincial People's Committees under the central government, and related agencies, units, and individuals are responsible for implementing this Circular.

1. Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-affiliated agencies, provincial People's Committees, and related agencies and organizations shall be responsible for implementing this Circular.

2. The Director of the General Department of Meteorology and Hydrology shall be responsible for organizing the implementation of this Circular.