Japan upgrades downpour forecasts before Tokyo Olympics

They say this is a significant improvement on existing systems that measure only parts of a cloud in up to five minutes.

How long will it before apps like WeatherNews can use this technology? Future cast radar is iffy at best right now. I often say to the wife, "Hey, a big storm is coming!" But nope. Disappeared, or traveled just to the north. This would be cool if the tech actually works.

Why does everything have to be tied to the 2020 Olympics?

Why does everything have to be tied to the 2020 Olympics?

Because then the people doing the research can justify the costs! (Even if they fail!)

No mention of the looming massive earthquake or Fujisans eruption or 45 degrees heat. Just a spot of rain...

No mention of the looming massive earthquake or Fujisans eruption or 45 degrees heat. Just a spot of rain...

exactly. Heavy rain we can handle. Massive earthquakes, Tsunamis, and volcano eruptions on the other hand..

I'm dubious, but even if they've pinpointed to the minute when a downpour will arrive at an Olympic venue?

Because of that, the nation has created sophisticated early-warning technology and disaster mitigation 

But this is not true. How can this be possible said given the major lack of prevention and disaster mitigation which clearly was evident during the recent deadly downpours (last year or in Hiroshima), the 2011 tsunami and the Fukushima disaster or the recent earthquakes in Kyushu or Hokkaido? Japan does not have some magic measures that will prevent it against major natural disasters, this is a myth that a lot of people want to believe to reassure themselves.

But this is not true. How can this be possible said given the major lack of prevention and disaster mitigation which clearly was evident during the recent deadly downpours (last year or in Hiroshima), the 2011 tsunami and the Fukushima disaster or the recent earthquakes in Kyushu or Hokkaido?

Because we live in the real world, and not TV, and the technology you seem to think they should have already implemented is not technology that actually exists in the real world right now.

Japan does not have some magic measures that will prevent it against major natural disasters, this is a myth that a lot of people want to believe to reassure themselves.

I've never seen anyone claim anything that could even be exaggerated into what you are saying. What was said to make you come up with this comment?

OK, so let's imagine this technology works (unlike the Magic Ice Barrier).

30 minutes before the Opening Ceremony, or the Men's 100 metres, or any outdoor event that thousands of people have gathered for, this system forecasts a massive downpour is imminent.

What happens? 30 minutes isn't anywhere near long enough for the cabal of 70-year-old ojisans who make up the JOC to have a tooth-sucking meeting and decide on a course of action, much less to implement it.

The best you're going to get is the assembled sports fans learn that they're going to get drenched in half an hour. Whoop de do.

That's if they even make an announcement at all. A pound to a penny says they'll sit on any inconvenient news to prevent "inconvenience".

exactly. Heavy rain we can handle. Massive earthquakes, Tsunamis, and volcano eruptions on the other hand..

Not for people not accustomed to it.(tourists)

China - Since 2013 the country has been creating 55 billion tons of artificial rain a year. In an attempt to induce extra rainfall over the Tibetan Plateau it was embarking on the largest artificial rain experiment in history. Source RT.

cant we reverse engineer Chinese technology?