Climate

Currently, well over 10 000 manned and automatic surface weather stations, 1 000 upper-air stations, 7 000 ships, 100 moored and 1 000 drifting buoys, hundreds of weather radars and 3 000 specially equipped commercial aircraft measure key parameters of the atmosphere, land and ocean surface every day. Add to these some 16 meteorological and 50 research satellites to get an idea of the size of the global network for meteorological, hydrological and other geophysical observations. Once collected, observations are quality-controlled, based on technical standards defined by the WMO Instruments

An ECV is a physical, chemical or biological variable or a group of linked variables that critically contributes to the characterization of Earth’ s climate.

Data repositories and archives play a critical role as the source for the observational data used in the study of weather and climate. After over two centuries of recording observations on physical media – and the last 20 years on digital media – these records are at risk.

Long-term meteorological observations are part of the irreplaceable cultural and scientific heritage of mankind that serve the needs of current and future generations for long-term high quality climate records. They are unique sources of past information about atmospheric parameters, thus are references for climate variability and change assessments. To highlight this importance, WMO has a mechanism to recognize centennial observing stations.

WMO coordinates and organizes international research programmes to enhance the ability of its Members to improve weather, climate, water and environmental observations, prediction, service delivery and scientific assessments of regional and global environmental conditions. 

Regional Climate Outlook Forums (RCOFs) produce consensus-based, user-relevant climate outlook products in real time through regional cooperation and partnership in order to reduce climate-related risks and support sustainable development for the coming season in sectors of critical socioeconomic significance for the region in question.

Through this designation process, GPCLRFs adhere to certain well-defined standards, aiding the consistency and usability of:

Weather, climate and water impact on agriculture and fisheries, energy, transport, health, insurance, sports, tourism and many more socio-economic sectors. WMO promotes the application of meteorological, climatological, hydrological and oceanographic information in all human activities. 

Capacity development for climate services encompasses all elements of the climate services value chain, from climate data management and climate monitoring and prediction, to service delivery and communication of relevant products to end-users in compliance with the highest quality management standards. In order to meet this mandate, WMO has an integrated approach for capacity development of climate services that includes institutional, infrastructural, human resources and procedural components.
 

WMO supports UNFCCC through a wide range of scientific and technical inputs, including its support through the IPCC, thereby contributing to adaptation, mitigation and capacity development. Every year, WMO participates in sessions of the Conference of Parties (COP) of UNFCCC, providing the latest scientific advice and information to governments, including the Statement on the State of the Global Climate and the Greenhouse Gas Bulletin.

For more than 20 years, these reports have been published in the six official languages of the United Nations to inform governments, international agencies, other WMO partners and the general public about the global climate and significant weather and climate trends and events at the global and regional levels.