Ananya Gupta
September 12, 2023 12:20
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What is the WMO Full Form? WMO Is an intergovernmental organization with 193 Member States and Territories. In this article we will know about WMO Full Form.
WMO stands for the “World Meteorological Organization”. It is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for promoting international cooperation in meteorology (the study of weather and climate), climatology (the study of climate), hydrology (the study of water resources), and related fields. The WMO’s primary goal is to improve the understanding of the Earth’s atmosphere and its various components to enhance weather forecasting, climate monitoring, and disaster risk reduction efforts worldwide.
| WMO Full Form | |
|---|---|
| Full Form | World Meteorological Organization |
| Formation | 23 March 1950 |
| Parent organization | United Nations Economic and Social Council |
| Headquarters | Geneva, Switzerland |
| Type | United Nations specialized agency |
| Member | 193 Member States and Territories |
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has a rich history dating back to its establishment in the late 19th century. Here’s a brief overview of its history:
International Meteorological Organization (IMO): The precursor to the WMO was the International Meteorological Organization, which was founded in 1873. It aimed to promote international cooperation in meteorology, with a particular focus on standardizing meteorological observations and data.
Formation of WMO: In 1950, the United Nations formally established the World Meteorological Organization as a specialized agency to replace the IMO. This move recognized the growing importance of meteorology, climatology, and related fields in the context of global development and safety.
Early Activities: In its early years, the WMO focused on standardizing meteorological observations and exchanging meteorological data among member countries. This standardization was crucial for improving weather forecasting and climate monitoring.
Expansion of Responsibilities: Over time, the WMO expanded its scope to cover not only meteorology but also climatology, hydrology, and related geophysical sciences. It played a vital role in coordinating international efforts to understand and address climate change.
Global Observing Systems: The WMO has been instrumental in developing and maintaining global observing systems, such as the Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) and the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP). These programs have greatly contributed to our understanding of the Earth’s atmosphere and climate.
Disaster Risk Reduction: The organization has also been involved in disaster risk reduction efforts, particularly related to weather-related and climate-related disasters. It provides early warnings and support to member countries in times of extreme weather events.
Climate Conventions: The WMO has been closely associated with international climate agreements, such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). It provides scientific input and expertise to these initiatives.
Modernization and Technology: In recent years, the WMO has focused on modernizing its operations, adopting new technologies, and promoting the use of cutting-edge science in meteorology, climatology, and hydrology.
Sustainable Development: The WMO is aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and contributes to efforts related to water resources management, disaster resilience, and environmental sustainability.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) plays a pivotal role in promoting global collaboration in meteorology and related fields. Its mission encompasses:
Facilitating Global Cooperation: WMO serves as a platform for international cooperation, enabling the development and provision of meteorological services worldwide.
Rapid Information Exchange: It fosters the swift exchange of meteorological information among member countries, crucial for timely weather forecasts and early warnings.
Standardization of Meteorological Data: WMO works diligently to advance the standardization of meteorological data, ensuring consistency and reliability in observations and records.
Integration with Hydrological Services: The organization encourages the seamless integration of meteorological and hydrological services, recognizing the interconnectedness of weather and water management.
Promoting Research and Training: WMO is dedicated to promoting research and training in meteorology, nurturing scientific advancements and expertise in the field.
Multi-Sectoral Application: Beyond meteorology, WMO advocates for the broader application of meteorological knowledge in sectors like aviation, shipping, agriculture, and water management, enhancing safety and efficiency across various industries.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) performs several critical functions to advance meteorology, climatology, hydrology, and related fields globally. Its functions include:
Coordination of International Activities: WMO facilitates international collaboration and coordination among its member countries in the fields of meteorology, climatology, hydrology, and related sciences.
Standardization of Data and Practices: WMO establishes and maintains standards for the collection, exchange, and use of meteorological and hydrological data. This standardization ensures consistency and reliability in observations and forecasts worldwide.
Global Observing Systems: It oversees the development and maintenance of global observing systems, such as the Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) and the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP). These systems provide essential data for weather and climate monitoring.
Weather Forecasting and Early Warning: WMO supports and enhances weather forecasting capabilities globally, providing early warnings for extreme weather events like hurricanes, cyclones, floods, and droughts to mitigate their impacts on communities.
Climate Monitoring: The organization plays a crucial role in monitoring and assessing climate variability and change, contributing to scientific understanding and climate policy development.
Research and Development: WMO promotes research and development in meteorology and related fields, fostering innovation in observation technologies, modeling, and prediction methods.
Capacity Building: It offers training and capacity-building programs to member countries, helping them develop expertise in meteorology, climatology, and hydrology.
Disaster Risk Reduction: WMO supports disaster risk reduction efforts by providing meteorological information and expertise to help countries prepare for and respond to weather and climate-related disasters.
Environmental Protection: WMO contributes to environmental protection by monitoring atmospheric composition, air quality, and greenhouse gas concentrations, assisting in environmental policymaking.
Aviation and Shipping Safety: WMO’s services are critical for aviation and shipping safety, providing accurate and timely weather information to ensure safe operations in these sectors.
Water Resource Management: It assists in the sustainable management of water resources by providing hydrological information, including river flow and water quality data.
Climate Services: WMO promotes the delivery of climate services to support adaptation and resilience-building in various sectors, including agriculture, water management, and public health.
International Policy Support: The organization actively engages in international climate negotiations and agreements, such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), providing scientific input and expertise.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has a hierarchical structure that facilitates its operations and decision-making processes. The hierarchy of the WMO consists of the following key components:
World Meteorological Congress (WMC): The World Meteorological Congress is the highest governing body of the WMO. It typically convenes every four years and is composed of representatives from WMO member countries. During these sessions, important policies and strategies are determined, and leadership positions, such as the President and Vice-President of the WMO, are elected. The Congress also selects members who will serve on the Executive Council.
Executive Council: The Executive Council is responsible for overseeing the implementation of policies and decisions made by the World Meteorological Congress. It is composed of elected members who represent different regions and expertise areas. The Executive Council meets between sessions of the World Meteorological Congress to ensure the organization’s effective operation.
President and Vice-President: The President and Vice-President of the WMO are elected by the World Meteorological Congress. They provide leadership and guidance to the organization, representing it on the international stage and working closely with the Executive Council to implement Congress decisions.
Secretariat: The Secretariat serves as the administrative arm of the WMO and is responsible for day-to-day operations. The Secretary-General heads the Secretariat and is appointed by the World Meteorological Congress. The Secretariat’s staff, numbering around 200 individuals, supports various activities, including data management, research coordination, and communication with member countries and partner organizations.
Regional Associations: WMO member countries are grouped into six Regional Associations, each representing a specific geographic region. These associations facilitate regional collaboration and address meteorological and hydrological issues unique to their respective areas.
Technical Commissions and Programmes: WMO operates numerous Technical Commissions and Programmes focused on specific areas of meteorology, climatology, and related fields. These entities work on research, development, and coordination efforts to advance meteorological science and services.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) plays a crucial role in maintaining standardized codes for meteorological, oceanographic, and hydrological data. These codes are meticulously designed to ensure ease of use, portability, extensibility, and universality. The primary aim is to enable every member of the organization to access and interpret this data clearly, fostering consistency and standardization in meteorological observations.
These codes serve as a common language for recording and sharing meteorological information, facilitating communication and collaboration among WMO member countries. This universal accessibility allows members to access and track changes in the data. For instance, based on these codes, it was reported that 2016 ranked as one of the hottest years on record.
Here are some of the key codes used by the WMO:
SYNOP: This code is employed for reporting current weather conditions. These reports are transmitted at regular intervals, typically every six hours. SYNOP reports provide valuable information about various weather parameters, such as temperature, humidity, wind speed, and atmospheric pressure, helping meteorologists analyze and predict weather patterns.
CLIMAT: CLIMAT codes are used to report climatic conditions based on meteorological surface observations of land. These reports help monitor long-term climate trends and variations, contributing to our understanding of climate change.
TEMP: TEMP codes are utilized for reporting weather conditions at upper levels of the atmosphere. These observations are essential for understanding the dynamics of the atmosphere, especially for aviation and weather forecasting at different altitudes.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has outlined a strategic plan to achieve its objectives. Here are some key components of this plan:
Disaster Risk Reduction: WMO has established a comprehensive Disaster Risk Reduction plan to address and mitigate the impacts of various disasters that can affect humanity. This plan involves enhancing early warning systems, improving disaster preparedness, and providing critical meteorological information to support disaster management.
Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS): WMO actively participates in and promotes the Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS). This framework is designed to enhance the availability and accessibility of climate information and services to help societies adapt to climate variability and change.
WMO Integrated Global Observing System (WIGOS): WMO operates the WMO Integrated Global Observing System (WIGOS), which plays a vital role in fulfilling the organization’s objectives. WIGOS focuses on maintaining and expanding the global network of observing instruments and systems, ensuring high-quality meteorological and hydrological data collection.
Guidance for Aviation Meteorological Services: WMO provides guidance and standards for aviation meteorological services, ensuring the safety and efficiency of air travel. This includes weather forecasting and monitoring to support aviation operations.
Polar and High Mountain Regions: WMO is actively engaged in addressing meteorological and climatological challenges in polar and high mountain regions. This involves monitoring and understanding the unique weather and climate conditions in these areas, which have global implications.
Developing Capacity: WMO places a strong emphasis on capacity building in meteorology, climatology, and related fields. It provides training and educational resources to member countries to enhance their capabilities in weather and climate services.
Governance: The organization also focuses on governance matters related to meteorological and hydrological services. This includes ensuring that member countries adhere to established standards and protocols to maintain the quality and reliability of data and services.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) plays a crucial role in advancing meteorology, climatology, hydrology, and related sciences worldwide. While it has many advantages and benefits, it also faces certain challenges and limitations. Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of the WMO:
Global Coordination: The WMO facilitates international cooperation and coordination among its Member States, promoting a collaborative approach to addressing weather, climate, and water-related challenges on a global scale.
Standardization: It establishes and maintains standards for the collection, exchange, and use of meteorological and hydrological data, ensuring consistency and reliability in observations and forecasts.
Early Warning Systems: WMO supports the development of early warning systems for extreme weather events, such as hurricanes, cyclones, and floods, helping to save lives and reduce property damage.
Climate Monitoring: The organization contributes to monitoring and understanding climate variability and change, providing valuable data and expertise for climate research and policy development.
Capacity Building: WMO offers training and capacity-building programs to member countries, helping them develop expertise in meteorology, climatology, and hydrology.
Data Sharing: It facilitates the free and unrestricted exchange of meteorological and hydrological data among Member States, enabling better weather and climate forecasts.
International Collaboration: WMO collaborates with other international organizations and agencies, contributing to various global initiatives related to environmental protection, disaster risk reduction, and sustainable development.
Limited Resources: The WMO often faces resource constraints, making it challenging to meet all the needs and demands of its member countries, especially those with limited financial and technological resources.
Data Access: Despite efforts to promote data sharing, there may still be barriers to accessing critical meteorological and hydrological data, particularly in regions with political tensions or resource limitations.
Varying Capabilities: Member countries have varying levels of capacity and infrastructure for meteorological and hydrological services, leading to disparities in the quality and availability of services.
Climate Change Action: While the WMO plays a significant role in climate monitoring, it does not have the authority to enforce climate change mitigation measures. It relies on international agreements and cooperation for such actions.
Data Privacy and Security: Ensuring the security and privacy of meteorological and hydrological data is a challenge, particularly in an era of increased cyber threats.
Global Inequality: Addressing the needs of all member countries, especially those in vulnerable regions, can be challenging due to disparities in resources and capabilities.
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