The Manila Observatory is a non-profit research institute housed on the campus of the

Ateneo de Manila University , mottoeng = Light in the Lord , type = Private, research, non-profit, coeducational basic and higher education institution , established = December 10, 1859 , religious_affiliation = Roman Catholic ( Jesuits) , academic ...

Quezon City Quezon City (, ; fil, Lungsod Quezon ), also known as the City of Quezon and Q.C. (read in Filipino as Kyusi), is the most populous city in the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 2,960,048 people. It was fou ...

Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...

. It was founded by the

Society of Jesus , image = Ihs-logo.svg , image_size = 175px , caption = ChristogramOfficial seal of the Jesuits , abbreviation = SJ , nickname = Jesuits , formation = , founders ...

, commonly known as the Jesuits, in 1865 as the Observatorio Meteorológico del Ateneo Municipal de Manila. It was later renamed Observatorio Meteorológico de Manila. It has done weather forecasting and earthquake research and today researches

seismic Seismology (; from Ancient Greek σεισμός (''seismós'') meaning "earthquake" and -λογία (''-logía'') meaning "study of") is the scientific study of earthquakes and the propagation of elastic waves through the Earth or through other ...

and

geomagnetic Earth's magnetic field, also known as the geomagnetic field, is the magnetic field that extends from Earth's interior out into space, where it interacts with the solar wind, a stream of charged particles emanating from the Sun. The magnetic ...

phenomena as well as

radio Radio is the technology of signaling and communicating using radio waves. Radio waves are electromagnetic waves of frequency between 30 hertz (Hz) and 300 gigahertz (GHz). They are generated by an electronic device called a transmi ...

and

solar physics Solar physics is the branch of astrophysics that specializes in the study of the Sun. It deals with detailed measurements that are possible only for our closest star. It intersects with many disciplines of pure physics, astrophysics, and compu ...

History

An article published in '' Diario de Manila'' by Jesuit Fr. Jaime Nonell led to the observatory's establishment. The article described Jesuit Fr. Francisco Colina's observations of a typhoon in September 1865 and led the public to ask Jesuit superior Juan Vidal for the observations to be continued. After initial hesitation on the part of the Jesuits because of the primitive instruments available, the superior yielded upon the promise of a Secchi Universal Meteorograph purchased from the

Holy See The Holy See ( lat, Sancta Sedes, ; it, Santa Sede ), also called the See of Rome, Petrine See or Apostolic See, is the jurisdiction of the Pope in his role as the bishop of Rome. It includes the apostolic episcopal see of the Diocese of R ...

. This started systemic observation of the Philippine weather. Manilaobservatryjf2024 03

The institute was founded and led by Jesuit cleric Federico Faura. It started issuing warnings on typhoons in 1879, and the next year earthquake observations. In 1884 the

Spanish government gl, Goberno de España eu, Espainiako Gobernua , image = , caption = Logo of the Government of Spain , headerstyle = background-color: #efefef , label1 = Role , data1 = Executive power , label2 = Established , da ...

recognized the observatory as the official institution for weather forecasting in the

. It started its time service in 1885,

seismology Seismology (; from Ancient Greek σεισμός (''seismós'') meaning "earthquake" and -λογία (''-logía'') meaning "study of") is the scientific study of earthquakes and the propagation of elastic waves through the Earth or through other ...

in 1887, and

astronomy Astronomy () is a natural science that studies celestial objects and phenomena. It uses mathematics, physics, and chemistry in order to explain their origin and evolution. Objects of interest include planets, moons, stars, nebulae, g ...

in 1899. The American colonial government established the observatory in 1901 as the Philippine Weather Bureau, which expanded into

meteorology Meteorology is a branch of the atmospheric sciences (which include atmospheric chemistry and physics) with a major focus on weather forecasting. The study of meteorology dates back millennia, though significant progress in meteorology did no ...

, and geomagnetism. The work of the bureau was interrupted by the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposi ...

. During the Battle of Manila, all of the instruments and important documents of the bureau were destroyed, and it ceased to function. A specific government agency was established in its place. The observatory resumed operation in 1951 in

Baguio Baguio ( , ), officially the City of Baguio ( ilo, Siudad ti Baguio; fil, Lungsod ng Baguio), is a 1st class highly urbanized city in the Cordillera Administrative Region, Philippines. It is known as the "Summer Capital of the Philippines", ...

, mainly for studies on seismology and the ionosphere. In 1963 it was transferred to the Loyola Heights campus of the

where it continues its studies into

, geomagnetism, and radio physics, among other areas of research.

Organizational structure

The observatory is mainly composed of two units: administration and research. Administration is primarily composed of General Administration, Accounting,

Human Resource Human resources (HR) is the set of people who make up the workforce of an organization, business sector, industry, or economy. A narrower concept is human capital, the knowledge and skills which the individuals command. Similar terms include ...

, and Physical Facilities and Supplies. Research programs include

Climate Change In common usage, climate change describes global warming—the ongoing increase in global average temperature—and its effects on Earth's climate system. Climate change in a broader sense also includes previous long-term changes to ...

Assistance,

Geomatics Geomatics is defined in the ISO/TC 211 series of standards as the "discipline concerned with the collection, distribution, storage, analysis, processing, presentation of geographic data or geographic information". Under another definition, it ...

for Environment and Development, Instrumentation and Technology, Regional Climate Systems, Solid Earth Dynamics, Air Quality Dynamics, and Special Research Projects. The observatory's recent special research projects are: Climate Change Adaptation – Disaster Risk Management and

Co-benefits of Climate Change Mitigation Co-benefits of climate change mitigation are the positive benefits related to mitigation measures which reduce greenhouse gas emissions or enhance carbon sinks. The beneficial or adverse impacts of deploying climate-change mitigation measures ar ...

References

External links

*
Manila Observatory: A Stellar Legacy by Bamm Gabriana
{{Authority control Astronomical observatories in the Philippines Ateneo de Manila University Research institutes in Metro Manila Spanish colonial infrastructure in the Philippines History of Manila 1865 establishments in the Philippines

History

Organizational structure

See also

References

Further reading

External links