The World Meteorological Organization was formed on the basis of the International Meteorological Organization (IMO). Today it is the official voice of the UN in the problems of atmospheric phenomena of the Earth, the relationship of the atmospheric layer with the oceans and the impact on climate change.
Short story
The year of formation of the World Meteorological Organization is 1947. It has been operating since 1951. Continues the work of IMO - the International Meteorological Organization, which was formed in 1853, after the first international conference on the problems of meteorology.
In September 1947, the WMO Convention was adopted in Washington, which entered into force in March 1950.
The World Meteorological Organization is a specialized UN body.
WMO structure
The highest organ of the organization is the World Meteorological Congress. Delegates from WMO Member States are invited to attend. The purpose of the next meeting is to determine a single vector of activity for achieving the set tasks and resolving questions about new members of the organization, as well as the election of the main WMO leaders. Congress meets every four years.
The executive body of the association is the Executive Council. His tasks are to be responsible for the implementation of decisions made and to control the expenditures of the WMO budget. Today, the board consists of 37 directors elected by Congress from national hydrometeorological or meteorological observation services. These are 27 members, three vice-presidents, a president and six presidents of regional associations. Namely:
- Southwestern Pacific;
- Europe
- North, Central America and the Caribbean;
- South America
- Of Asia;
- Africa.
These associations are responsible for coordinating the activities of hydro and weather services in the regions.
Technical Commissions
The World Meteorological Organization in its structure has eight technical commissions, such as:
- JCOMM is a joint WMO Commission with the IOC on Meteorology of the Oceans and Seas.
- CCl - in climatology.
- KSKhM - on meteorology in agriculture.
- KAM - aeronautical meteorology.
- CAS - in atmospheric sciences.
- CHy - in hydrology.
- KPMN - on instruments and methods of observation.
- CBS - by major systems.
The association has an Information, Documentation and Administration Center - it is a secretariat. It is led by the Secretary General. As well as two bureaus responsible for communications, in Brussels and New York.
The main directions in work
The World Meteorological Organization is working on a wide range of climate and atmospheric issues. It compiles a scientifically based weather forecast, studies climate change that affects the weather, and warns of impending natural disasters. In addition, the tasks of WMO include coordinating global scientific activities to provide timely data in real time on the weather conditions of airlines, ports, sea and ocean vessels and other interested parties.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is the highest authority in this field of scientific activity.
The directions that the organization covers are several:
- It facilitates cooperation between countries in the construction of networks for various types of observations.
- It helps the speedy exchange of climate and other information, uniformity of forecasts, statistics and observational results in publications.
- The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) unifies meteorological observations.
- It takes measures to prevent dangerous weather events and amortize the possible consequences of the elements.
- Assists in operational hydrology, scientific training and new research.
World Weather Watch
WMO has created a service that works with the national weather forecast services of members, ground-based observations, meteorological centers in regions and states, and specialized space satellites. In modern reality, special attention is paid to space observation systems.
Organization's activities
All necessary agreements related to measurements, weather standards, codes and communications are established with the direct involvement of WMO.
Not so long ago, the World Meteorological Organization adopted a policy paper on tropical cyclones. It enables states (about 50), dependent on tropical cyclones, to reduce the number of victims and victims, as well as destruction to a minimum. This is facilitated by constantly modernizing systems for forecasting and warning of impending natural disasters.
The World Meteorological Organization collects, systematizes and stores data on climate change, enabling governments to prepare for the likely consequences in a few months.
Research programs on atmospheric change assist in coordinating and systematizing data on the physical and chemical composition of clouds, weather forecasts and meteorology of the Earth’s tropical zone. Observations of the content of radionuclides, greenhouse gases, ozone and other gaseous traces in the atmosphere have become mandatory.
Work is underway at the World Meteorological Organization related to meteorological advice to agricultural producers. This helps to significantly reduce losses from drought, disease, or pests. The Water and Hydrology Program provides an opportunity to assess freshwater supplies and their quality, manage global water resources and warn of impending floods.