Meteorological Archive Digitization Complete for Aruba and Dutch Caribbean

The International Panel on Deltas and Coastal Areas (IPDC), on behalf of its partner organizations, has announced the completion of data rescue and digitization efforts for historical meteorological archives covering Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba. The project involved converting old, physical weather records into digital formats, preserving decades of climate data that could otherwise be lost to deterioration. This effort spans all six islands of the Dutch Caribbean, reflecting a coordinated regional approach to climate data preservation. The digitized records are expected to support climate research, improve weather modeling, and inform disaster preparedness planning across the region. Access to long-term historical weather data is particularly critical for small island communities that are highly vulnerable to hurricanes, sea-level rise, and other climate-related threats. The announcement marks a significant milestone in the region's efforts to build a comprehensive and accessible climate data infrastructure.