Alexey Moreno is 46 years old and has a degree in agricultural engineering. Judging by his verbal skills, he may also have been a communicator. However, neither one nor the other: 23 years ago, a sustained streak in the shape of a hunch pushed him into the very eye of a profession from which he could never leave again: Meteorology. Today he is the technical deputy director of the Tunas Meteorological Center.
-How did you reorient your profession?
-Until the early 90s of the last century, Cuban meteorologists were trained in the old Soviet Union. When the socialist camp collapsed, the sector had to change its strategy and began to be nurtured by graduates in branches such as Geography and Physics. In 1997, my degree in Agronomy also found a profile. Don't forget that a good harvest is highly dependent on weather predictions.
-Was that process of change especially difficult for you?
-I should have familiarized myself with my new job through courses and diplomas at different levels. In 2000, with training, I joined the Forecasting group, where I stayed for several years. This section is in charge of monitoring weather conditions and, based on its observations, prepares forecasts for both the province and the adjacent seas, as well as keeping the population informed through the media.
-How is Las Tunas Meteorological System organized?
-Las Tunas has meteorological stations in the provincial capital and the municipality of Puerto Padre. Every three hours, they take the value of the meteorological variables in real-time and send it for analysis to both the Provincial Meteorological Center and the Institute of Meteorology. We also have an Applied Meteorology group, with technicians in Agrometeorology, Informatics and Communications, Climate, Air Pollution and Station Network.
-Describe a day of yours at the institution.
-In ideal circumstances, with a clear sky and calm sea, I arrive at the center early and participate in the delivery of the watch together with the director and the group leaders. There we catch up on what happened in the last 24 hours and we know the forecasts for the next ones. From there the work is projected, including that of the meteorological stations. In the meantime, I also prepare my appearance on television.
-Are these presentations daily or do they depend on the weather?
-For 17 years I have been recording a short bulletin for the TunasVisión channel from Monday to Friday. I do it live when there is a threat of a tropical cyclone, a severe local storm, or another impact. I also go to Radio station periodically. In times of dangerous meteorological phenomena or military exercises, I must appear before the Provincial Defense Council to report on the situation. The population can also know the forecasts through an application that we have associated with a telephone line.
-Do the companies from Las Tunas benefit from the forecasts?
-We contract our services, for example, to the one that builds the wind farms in the north of the province. There they need to know the behavior of the wind and the state of the sea and we give them that information. We alert the Electric Company of sustained winds so that they disconnect their circuits in time and avoid damage. The Provincial Delegation of Agriculture requires weather warnings so that its dependencies can plan the best stage to sow, cultivate and obtain the greatest amount of food.
-Do you have advanced technology to work?
-The equipment is top of the line. Besides, in the center, we have a broadband Internet connection, as well as data on cell phones for updated information. We even create WhatsApp groups in which we share images and data in real-time so that we are aware of what is happening in our sector and we can provide updated information. We also access information from satellites and we even feed on Puerto Rico's radar and warnings from the Miami Hurricane Center.
-Is Las Tunas center recognized on a national scale?
-Yes, a lot of recognition. In recent years, our effectiveness in weather forecasts has been around 90 percent. At the end of the stage that runs from January to July 2020, we reached 93.7, a higher range, even than the national average. It is the result of deep and rigorous work by the nine specialists who serve this area. Our center was founded in 1992 and for several years it has been the National Vanguard.
-And what about professional improvement? Do you take it into account?
-Always! I have been a master since 2012 and I am about to start a doctorate. We have colleagues about to complete their master's degrees and others are immersed in research. Besides, the Institute of Meteorology plans improvement courses and diplomas every year. Right here, every month we develop a technical meeting because news that we must know constantly arises.
-Do you have regular contact with the Institute of Meteorology?
-Every day, at 1:00 pm, members of the provincial centers attend a videoconference led by Miriam Teresita Yánez, director of the National Forecasting Center. In this context, each territory exposes its situation and argues with technical analysis of the variables: direction and strength of the wind, range of rainfall, state of the sea ... It is also an action to overcome.
-Have you participated in important meteorological events?
-In 2012 I went to a Congress in Mexico that gave me a lot of new knowledge. I have participated in others, both national and international, sponsored by the Cuban Meteorological Society, whose theoretical events the most relevant works of the last two years are presented. Several of our specialists have attended those with research results.
-How does the appearance of a hurricane change your routines?
-Totally! The appearance of a tropical organism causes the Civil Defense to decree orientation phases as its intensity increases. In the information phase, the work is not so intense, but in the alarm phase, it is to go crazy. In my case, I must constantly update myself to inform the media and the Provincial Defense Council. I stay at the center 24 hours a day. In my office, I have a backpack with clothes, a toothbrush, toothpaste, soap ... As long as the danger lasts I won't go home.
-What are your preferences in free moments?
-I confess that I am a meteorologist even in my spare time. My work is also my hobby and I don't see myself in another profession other than this one. But I like to hang out with my friends, read authors like José Saramago and Isabel Allende, listen to music by Melendi and Buena Fe, watch action films, check my social networks ... By the way, many people write to me, both from Cuba and abroad, thanking the information that I upload.
-What do you enjoy the most about your professional work?
-Everything. I especially enjoy the act of serving the people and keeping them informed when a dangerous weather event threatens their peace of mind. Being recognized by people on the street and receiving tokens of gratitude from them meets all my expectations.
