WHO WE ARE

The Manila Observatory is a research institution that does science to empower communities to take up the urgent challenges of sustainable development and disaster risk resilience. Established in 1865 under the auspices of the Jesuit mission in the Philippines, the Observatory was the official meteorological and seismological agency of the Philippines until operations were handed over to the Philippine government in the aftermath of World War II. Since then, as a non-profit institution, it has been bringing science to bear on various environmental concerns.

These days, the Observatory has been deploying the atmospheric and earth sciences, remote sensing technologies, the instrumentation and data sciences to help communities to respond to the climate emergency.

Knowing science to be essential but not enough, the Observatory has collaboratories working in climate policy and practice that connect the scientific work of its laboratories to the needs of society.

Research Laboratories

  • Regional Climate Systems (RCS) does research on high-resolution climate change and weather extremes using numerical modeling and data analysis to provide scientific knowledge needed for climate resilience and adaptation, and disaster risk mitigation.
  • Geomatics for Environment and Development (GED) integrates remote sensing and geographic information systems (RS-GIS) to map socio-environmental themes and conduct spatial analyses for decision support across sustainable development sectors.
  • Data and Sensor Development (DSD) works on environmental sensors, data management, systems integration, and data analytics research. DSD develops, operates, and maintains scientific instrumentation and observational systems, in coordination with other labs in Observatory.
  • Air Quality Dynamics (AQD) provides scientific guidance to air quality assessment and effective air quality management through monitoring and modeling activities.
  • Upper Atmosphere Dynamics (UAD) studies the behavior of electromagnetic radiation in the ionosphere and possible interactions with the lithosphere, magnetosphere, and heliosphere.