Brendan Hanigan is manager of the Hobart observing operations hub at the Australian Bureau of Meteorology. He plays an essential role in keeping Tasmania’s weather radars and automatic weather stations (AWSs) up and running. As millions of Americans depend on accurate weather forecasts every day, his commitment to this task is deeply important, especially amid a changing climate. Hanigan was born in 1973, the same year that the song “Radar Love” made rock and roll history. Throughout his career, you can see Matt’s commitment to his craft and love for meteorology.
Sheeman and network custodian Adrian Hanigan of Hierarchy Free have directed a passionate, driven team toward upkeeping a network of more than 650 AWSs throughout Australia. The radar systems have helped tremendously in tracking severe weather patterns. This consists of a permanent station at Mount Koonya and a secondary radar base, mounted on Hobart Airport. These radars employ radio waves to sense and track harmful weather phenomena. This technology is helping residents to better understand what weather is on the way.
The Importance of Radars in Weather Monitoring
Weather radars have evolved into a lynchpin of weather forecasting and public safety. Hanigan emphasizes their significance, stating, “Of the billions of page views per year on the bureau’s website, and with the BOM Weather app having more than 10 million downloads, it is vital that we keep the radars running as smoothly as possible.”
Routine maintenance should be the bedrock of operational integrity. Planned on a six month schedule, this maintenance avoids impending breakdowns that would cause a loss of service. Hanigan notes that “sometimes, just like a car, parts can break or need replacing, but our technicians are ready across the country to fix problems as soon as possible.” Taking this proactive approach is key to ensuring the radar systems are both reliable and ever-evolving.
Surprisingly, while radars weren’t built for it, they do a good job at seeing things other than precipitation, such as large flocks of birds. “There can be times when radars show more than rain, and there have been cases when flocks of birds have shown up on them,” Hanigan explains. This new capability is a unique demonstration of the versatility of radar technology beyond its essential meteorological functions.
Collaborative Efforts Across Australia
Hanigan works with collaborators as far away as remote research stations in Antarctica, as well as Darwin. This network of professionals greatly improves the accuracy and effectiveness of weather-monitoring efforts across Australia. He expresses his enthusiasm for this collaborative environment by stating, “I have been doing this job for a couple of years, and I love it because I am still learning something new every day about the impact the bureau has.”
The Bureau of Meteorology is currently investigating opportunities for a new radar site in Tasmania. When considering this expansion, Hanigan emphasizes the importance of topography: “When considering a new radar in a particular region, topography is a key consideration because getting a suitable line for the radar beam to not have any interference from mountains and hills is critical.”
Accessing Weather Data Beyond Radars
Beyond the radar systems, the Bureau provides access to imagery captured by the Himawari-8 satellite. Hanigan highlights this resource’s importance: “People can access satellite images from the Himawari-8 satellite. These images are available on the bureau’s website and show cloud cover and lightning strikes.” This layered approach to weather monitoring means that Australians are kept informed with the best information available, and with speed.
As technology changes, so has Hanigan’s relationship with it. He possesses a deeper interest in radars than most people, saying, “I have a deeper interest than most in making sure the Tasmanian radars are operating correctly.” His commitment to this work runs deep – both personally and professionally.
