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WMO Satellite Activities and Strategic Perspectives

Panel on Space Technology and Applications in Support of the

Regional Roadmap for Implementing the 2030 Agenda 

for Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific

Toshiyuki KurinoWMO Space Programme

WMO/OMM

WMO in the United Nations

InternationalCourt

of Justice

GeneralAssembly

Economic and Social Council

SecurityCouncil

Secretariat TrusteeshipCouncil

Main and othersessional committees

Standing committees and ad-hoc bodies

Other subsidiary organsand related bodies

UNRWA

IAEA

INSTRAW UNCHS UNCTAD UNDCP UNDP UNEP UNFPA UNHCR UNICEF UNIFEM UNITAR UNU WFC

UNTSO UNMOGIP UNFICYP UNDOF UNIFIL UNIKOM UNAVEM II ONUSAL MINURSO UNPROFOR UNOSOM II UNOMIG UNOMIL UNMIH UNAMIR UNMOT

WFP ITC

Military Staff Committe Standing committees

and ad-hoc bodies

FUNCTIONAL COMMISIONS

REGIONAL COMMISSIONS

SESSIONAL AND STANDINGCOMMITTEES

EXPERT, AD-HOC AND RELATED BODIES

ILO FAO UNESCO(IOC)WHO

World Bank Group IBRD IDA IFC MIGA

IMF ICAO UPU ITUWMO

World MeteorologicalOrganization (WMO)

IMOWIPO IFAD UNIDOWTO

UN programmes and organs (representative list only)

Specialized agencies and other autonomous organizations within the system

Other commissions, committees and ad-hoc related bodies

WMO is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) with 191 Member States and Territories.WMO is dedicated to international cooperation and coordination on “Weather, Climate and Water”, namely the state and behavior of the Earth’s atmosphere, its interaction with the land and oceans, the weather and climate it produces, and the resulting distribution of water resources. 

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WMO operational frameworks

NMHSs deliver analyses, forecast and early warning services

The GDPFS: Global, RegionalSpecialized Met.  Centres (RSMC, RCC), and National Centres

191 NMHSs: satellites, land, ships, buoys, and aircraft contribute to Global Observing every day 

Global Telecom with Regional Hubs –becoming the WMOInformation System 

WIGOS

WIS

GDPFS

Service delivery

WMO Integrated Global Observing

System

WMO Information System

WMO Global Data-Processing and

Forecasting Systems

WMO Space Programme

•OSCAR/Requirements (Observing Requirements Database) •OSCAR/Space (Satellite & Instrument Database) •Satellite Status list •Satellite User Readiness Navigator (SATURN)•Product Access Guide (PAG) •Virtual Laboratory for Education and Training in Satellite Meteorology (VLAB)•Working Documents for Meetings

http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/sat/index_en.php

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Space‐based GOS 2015  2022

New‐GenerationGeostationary Orbit

FY‐3E in early morning orbit

Covering All WMO Regions Concerned

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Satellite Operator Launch date Longitude ImagerNumber of spectral channels

Spatialresolution

Temporal resolution (full disk)

Sounder / Lightning Mapper

Himawari-8 JMA 7 Dec 2014 140E AHI 16 0.5-2km 10min - / -

Electro-L N2ROSHYDRO-MET

11 Dec 2015 78E MSU-GS 10 1-4km 15min - / -

INSAT-3DR ISRO 8 Sep 2016 74E IMAGER 6 1-8km 30min S / -

Himawari-9 JMA 2 Nov 2016 140E AHI 16 0.5-2km 10min - / -

GOES-16 (GOES-R)

NOAA 19 Nov 201689.5W (final TBD)

ABI 16 0.5-2km 15min - / L

FY-4A CMA 10 Dec 2016 86.5E AGRI 14 1-4km 15min S / L

Geo-KOMPSAT-2A

KMA 2018 128.2E AMI 16 0.5-2km 10min - / -

GOES-S NOAA 2018 75W ABI 16 0.5-2km 15min - / L

FY-4B CMA 2018 105E AGRI 14 0.5-4km 15min S / L

MTG-I/S EUMETSAT 2022 9.5E FCI 16 0.5-2km 10min S / L

…

Status: May 2017; Source: OSCAR/Space

New‐Generation Meteorological Satellites Geostationary orbit:

Satellite Operator Launch date Orbit Payload

JPSS-1 NOAA 2017 13:30 asc ATMS, CrIS, CERES, OMPS-nadir, VIIRS, SEM (EPS, HES, SSJ5)

FY-3E CMA 2018 06:00 descHIRAS, ERM-2, GNOS, MERSI-2, MWHS-2, MWTS-3, OMS (limb, nadir), SIM-2, WindRAD, SES (IPM, SEM, X-EUV)

…

Low‐Earth orbit:

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New and Enhanced Satellite Data from Geostationary Orbit

Enhanced imaging Lightning detection from GEO (NEW)

Source: FY‐4A LMI Data; X. Fang, CMA, 2 May 2017

Hyperspectral sounding from GEO (NEW)

Source: FY‐4A GIIRS Data; X. Fang, CMA, 2 May 2017

• Many opportunities for enhancingservices

• Preparation by Members needed to achieve user readiness

Lightning flashes

Overlap in Imaging ChannelsOverlap in Geographical Footprint

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‐ WMO Space Programme’s objectives are to be achievedthrough strong partnership with CGMS.

‐ CGMS is a technical coordination body of satellite operators including space agencies focusing primarily on weather and climate satellite programmes in response to WMO requirements.

‐ WMO and CGMS are co‐sponsoring international science working groups: ITWG, IWWG, IPWG, IROWG and ICWG

Coordination Group for Meteorological Satellites (CGMS)

(http://www.cgms-info.org/index_.php/cgms/members_observers)

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Awareness & training

Dissemination & access

Quality-controlled products

Calibrateddata sets

Satellite Operators

DBNetGEONETCast

Users

Value Chain for WMO Space Programme

WIS

Climate MonitoringNowcasting

Global Space‐based Inter‐Calibration System

• What is GSICS?– Global Space‐based Inter‐Calibration System– Initiative of CGMS and WMO– Effort to produce consistent, well‐calibrated 

data from the international constellation of Earth Observing satellites 

• What are the basic strategies of GSICS?– Improve on‐orbit calibration by developing an 

integrated inter‐comparison system• Initially for GEO‐LEO Inter‐satellite calibration• Being extended to LEO‐LEO• Using external references as necessary

– Best practices for calibration & characterisation

• This will allow us to:– Improve consistency between instruments– Reduce bias in Level 1 and 2 products– Provide traceability of measurements– Retrospectively re‐calibrate archive data– Better specify future instruments

EUMETSAT CNES JMA

NOAA CMA KMA

ISRO NASA WMO

USGS NIST JAXA

ROSHYDROME

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The Direct Broadcast Network (DBNet) is a set of operational arrangements for the real‐time acquisition of Sounder data from Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites, in particular from the ATOVS suite of instruments, through a worldwide network of local, Direct Broadcast receiving stations and the rapid delivery of these data to the global user community used by Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) models

http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/sat/dbnet_en.php

GEONETCast is a global network of satellite‐based data dissemination systems (DVB‐S) providing environmental data to a world‐wide user community.

https://www.eumetsat.int/website/home/Data/DataDelivery/EUMETCast/GEONETCast/index.html

GEONETCast Users Worldwide April 2016

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4 Areas of WMO Support to User ReadinessRegion‐based Satellite User Groups

• Capture user requirements for data• Identify training needs• Foster dialogue with satellite operators• Guide cap dev & infrastructure projects

Training Events organized by VLab

Source: Vlab; Himawari‐8 BOM training campaign

Satellite User Readiness Portal (SATURN)

• One‐stop information resource• Maintained by satellite operators in CGMS 

on behalf of WMO

Best Practices for Achieving User Readiness

• Recommended user readiness activitiesover 3‐5 year period before launch(“reference user readiness project”)

• Deliverables by satellite agencies and operators to the user community

(WMO Guideline; CGMS best practice)

Photos: 2016 meetings of satellite user groups in RA I, III‐IV, II‐V

WMO Strategic Priorities for 2016‐2019

1. Disaster Risk Reduction

2. Global Framework for Climate Services

3. WMO Integrated Global Observing System

4. Aviation Meteorological Services

5. Polar and High Mountains Regions

6. Capacity Development 

7. Governance

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/WMO

Climate change & ‐services

Water resource management

Solar, wind & hydro use

Climate resilience

Big data, innovations

DRR, Adaptation, carbon & climate monitoring

Sea level rise, climate<‐>oceans

Climate change   <‐>ecosystems

Climate driven conflicts

Resources for climate adaptation & DRR

Air quality, heat waves, flooding

Weather resilience

Gender‐sensitive services

Successful adaptation will require substantially increased investment in climate services

The Global Framework for Climate Services A partnership

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WMO’s New Initiative for Implementing Operational Space‐based 

Weather and Climate Extremes Monitoring (SWCEM) Demonstration Project (SEMDP)

General Objective of SEMDP

SEMDP will be organized to foster a dialogue amongst satellite operators and WMO Regional Climate Centres(RCCs) with NMHSs;‐ to guide NMHSs and relevant institutes to be able to 

properly and practically use the space‐based observation data and products for monitoring selected ‘Weather and Climate Extremes’ with a focus on ‘persistent heavy rainfall’ and ‘drought’

‐ on a routine basis for climate monitoring, and for the development of improved climate services.

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A Cross‐cutting Scheme for Implementing Operational Space‐based Weather and Climate Extremes Monitoring (SWCEM)

Meteorological Satellite Operators

R&D Space Agencies

WMO Regional Climate Centres (RCCs)

NMHSs

NMHSs

Weather & Climate Extremes 

Data Base

Evaluation/Validation of ProductsProvision of Satellite derived Products

Capacity Building

Detection of Weather & Climate Extremes

Utilization/Evaluationof Guidance

NMHSs

Ground Station Measurements

Issuance of Guidance for Weather & Climate Extremes Monitoring

pre‐disaster risk assessment to post‐disaster emergency response mapping. 

sharing of experiences in the sharing of experiences in the application of satellite products for monitoring 

weather & climate extremes initiation

• The 2‐year SEMDP will concentrate on products at national and regional levels.  Items to be worked on include:(i) monitoring persistent heavy precipitation and droughts;

(ii) making best use of existing and newly developed satellite derived products and time series of measurements;

(iii) making best use of products that combine satellite information with in‐situ and/or model reanalysis data;

(iv) recommendations as to which products should be transitioned from research to operations, including an assessment of those products. 

• A final report of the SEMDP will be compiled and reviewed.  The next steps will then be based on the outcome of the demonstration phase.

Outline of the SWCEM Demonstration Project (SEMDP)

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The GPCLRFs and the RCCs constitute integral components of WMO's Global Data Processing and Forecasting System (GDPFS) underpinning the generation of climate information products by the NMHSs.

• Place/Dates: Jakarta, Indonesia, 8 to 11 January 2018 (tentatively planned),

• Representative of satellite operators including member agencies of CGMS (e.g. NOAA/NESDIS, EUMETSAT, CMA, JAXA),

• Representative of WMO RCCs in Regional Association II (e.g. BCC, TCC and PCC), and Regional Association V (e.g. the South East Asia (SEA)RCC‐Network and the Pacific Islands (PI)RCC‐Network),

• Representatives of NMHSs,

• WMO Secretariat: OBS/SAT, CLW/DMA

• During the SEMDP the WMO RCCs are expected to validate satellite derived products with CLIMAT and/or SYNOP data for monitoring persistent heavy precipitation and drought.

A Provisional Plan for the SEMDP “kick‐off” Workshop

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Vision for the Space‐based WMO Integrated Global Observation 

System (WIGOS) in 2040

Background: Why a new vision?

• Providing a new reference for WMO Members and other service providers on the possible evolution of future space‐based and surface‐based observing systems

• Guiding the future plans for satellite agencies (current Vision/Space 2025 is too near‐term)

Note: The Vision formulates a challenging but achievablehigh‐level goal in 2040

• Framework for future systems deployment and integration

Note: There are visions for both the Space and the Surface observations, which will be integrated

• Developing “Vision for WIGOS in 2040”, to be submitted to WMO Cg‐18 in 2019

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Initial Assumptions

• The current structure of the space‐based observing system is a solid foundation underpinning the success story of the «World Weather Watch» and essential to WIGOS– Geostationary constellation– 3‐orbit sun‐synchronous constellation for sounding and imagery– Complementary missions on appropriate orbits– Near‐real time data availability

• Questions were raised with reference to the Vision 2025– What should be added ?  – What is at risk and should be reinforced ? – What should be improved (performance, coverage) ?– What could be performed differently in the future ?– What are the major challenges?

Final Goal

‐ Feedback sought to improve the Vision 2040/Space‐ Coordination Group for Meteorological Satellites (CGMS), 

‐ Committee on Earth Observing Satellites (CEOS), ‐ Global Climate Observing System (GCOS),‐ World Climate Research Programme (WCRP),‐ Space Weather Community, …

‐ Endorsement of the full Vision 2040, Space and Surface Components, by WMO Congress in 2019

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There are four Components (1/2)

Two Backbone Components:

– Component 1:  Specified Orbital Configuration and Measurement Approach similar to CGMS baseline 

• Basis for members’ commitments, response to established data needs 

– Component 2: Orbital Configuration and Measurement approach remain 

• Basis for open contributions of WMO Members, to optimize and enhance the backbone

There are four Components (2/2)

– Component 3: Operational Pathfinders, and Technology and Science Demonstrators

• Responding to R&D needs; exploratory data for applications

– Component 4: Additional Capacities and Other Capabilities (e.g. academic, commercial) exploitingtechnical/business/programmatic opportunities, 

• WMO’s role is to recommend standards, best practices, guiding principles

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WIGOS Vision/Space 2040 – 4 ComponentsComponent 1 –Backbone system withspecified orbits and approaches

Component 2 – Backbonesystem with open orbitconfiguration, flexibilityto optimize system

Component 3 –Operationalpathfinders, technologyand science demonstrators

Component 4 –Additionalcapacitiesand capabilities

Instruments: Geophysical variables and phenomena:

Geostationary ring

Multi-spectral VIS/IR imagery with rapid repeat cycles

Cloud amount, type, top height/temperature; wind (through tracking cloud and water vapour features); sea/land surface temperature; precipitation; aerosols; snow cover; vegetation cover; albedo; atmospheric stability; fires; volcanic ash

IR hyperspectral sounders

Atmospheric temperature, humidity; wind (through tracking cloud and water vapour features); rapidly evolving mesoscale features; sea/land surface temperature; cloud amount and top height/temperature; atmospheric composition (aerosols, ozone, greenhouse gases, trace gases)

Lightning mappers Lightning (in particular cloud to cloud), location of intense convection, life cycle of convective systems

UV/VIS/NIR sounders Ozone , trace gases, aerosol, humidity, cloud top height

Low-Earth orbiting sun-synchronous core constellation in 3 orbital planes (morning, afternoon, early morning)

IR hyperspectral sounders Atmospheric temperature and humidity; sea/land surface temperature; cloud amount, water content and top height/temperature; precipitation; atmospheric composition (aerosols, ozone, greenhouse gases, trace gases) MW sounders

VIS/IR imagery; realisation of a Day/Night band

Cloud amount, type, top height/temperature; wind (high latitudes, through tracking cloud and water vapour features); sea/land surface temperature; precipitation; aerosols; snow and ice cover; vegetation cover; albedo; atmospheric stability

MW imagery Sea ice parameters; total column water vapour; precipitation; sea surface wind speed [and direction]; cloud liquid water; sea/land surface temperature; soil moisture

Scatterometers Sea surface wind speed and direction; surface stress; sea ice; soil moisture

Low-Earth orbit sun-synchronous satellites at 3 additional Equatorial Crossing Times, for improved robustness and improved time sampling particularly for monitoring precipitation

Other Low-Earth orbit satellites

Wide-swath radar altimeters, and high-altitude, inclined, high-precision orbit altimeters

Ocean surface topography; sea level; ocean wave height; lake levels; sea and land ice topography

IR dual-angle view imagers Sea surface temperature (of climate monitoring quality); aerosols; cloud properties

MW imagery with 6.7 GHz Sea surface temperature (all-weather) Low-frequency MW imagery Soil moisture, ocean salinity, sea surface wind, sea-ice thickness MW cross-track upper stratospheric and mesospheric sounders

Atmospheric temperature profiles in stratosphere and mesosphere

UV/VIS/NIR sounders, nadir and limb Atmospheric composition and aerosol Precipitation radars and cloud radars Precipitation (liquid and solid), cloud phase/ top height/ particle distribution/

amount, aerosol, dust, volcanic ash MW sounder and imagery in inclined orbits

Total column water vapour; precipitation; sea surface wind speed [and direction]; cloud liquid water; sea/land surface temperature; soil moisture

Absolutely calibrated broadband radiometers, and TSI and SSI radiometers

Broadband radiative flux; Earth radiation budget; total solar irradiance; spectral solar irradiance

GNSS radio occultation (basic constellation)

Atmospheric temperature and humidity; ionospheric electron density

Narrow-band or hyperspectral imagers Ocean colour; vegetation (including burnt areas); aerosols; cloud properties; albedo

High-resolution multi-spectral VIS/IR imagers

Land use, vegetation; flood, landslide monitoring; snow and ice parameters; permafrost

SAR imagery and altimeters Sea state, sea ice parameters, ice sheets, soil moisture, floods, permafrost Gravimetry missions Ground water, oceanography

Other missions

Solar wind in situ plasma and energetic particles, magnetic field, at L1

Energetic particle flux and energy spectrum (Radiation storms, geomagnetic storms )

Solar coronagraph and radio-spectrograph, at L1

Solar imagery (detection of coronal mass ejections and solar activity monitoring)

In-situ plasma probes and energetic particle spectrometers at GEO and LEO, and magnetic field at GEO

Energetic particle flux and energy spectrum (Radiation storms, geomagnetic storms)

Magnetometers on GEO orbit Geomagnetic field at GEO altitude (geomagnetic storms) On-orbit measurement reference standards for VIS/NIR, IR, MW absolute calibration

Instruments: Geophysical variables and phenomena:

GNSS reflectrometry missions, passive MW, SAR

Surface wind and sea state, permafrost changes/melting

Lidar (Doppler and dual/triple-frequency backscatter)

Wind and aerosol profiling

Lidar (single wavelength) (in addition to radar missions mentioned in Component 1)

Sea ice thickness

Interferometric radar altimetry Sea ice parameters, freeboard/sea ice thickness

Sub-mm imagery Cloud microphysical parameters, e.g. cloud phase NIR imagery CO2, CH4 Multi-angle, multi-polarization radiometers

Aerosols, radiation budget

Multi-polarization SAR, hyperspectral VIS High-resolution land and ocean observation GEO or LEO constellation of high-temporal frequency MW sounding

Atmospheric temperature, humidity and wind; sea/land surface temperature; cloud amount, water content and top height/temperature; atmospheric composition (aerosols, ozone, greenhouse gases, trace gases)

UV/VIS/NIR/IR/MW limb sounders Ozone , trace gases, aerosol, humidity, cloud top height HEO VIS/IR mission for continuous polar coverage (Arctic and Antarctica)

Sea ice parameters; cloud amount, cloud top height/temperature; cloud microphysics, wind (through tracking cloud and water vapour features); sea/land surface temperature; precipitation; aerosols; snow cover; vegetation cover; albedo; atmospheric stability; fires; volcanic ash

Solar magnetograph, solar EUV/X-ray imagery and EUV/X-ray irradiance, both on the Earth-Sun line (e.g. L1, GEO) and off the Earth-Sun line (e.g. L5, L4)

Solar activity (Detection of solar flares, Coronal Mass Ejections and precursor events)

Solar wind in situ plasma and energetic particles and magnetic field off the Earth-Sun line (e.g. L5)

Solar wind; energetic particles; interplanetary magnetic field

Solar coronagraph and heliospheric imagery off the Earth-Sun line (e.g. L4, L5)

Solar heliospheric imagery (Detection and monitoring of coronal mass ejections travelling to the Earth)

Magnetospheric energetic particles Energetic particle flux and energy spectrum (geomagnetic storms)

Instruments: Geophysical variables and phenomena:

GNSS RO additional constellation for enhanced atmospheric/ionospheric soundings, including additional frequencies optimized for atmospheric sounding

Atmospheric temperature and humidity; ionospheric electron density

NIR spectrometer Surface pressure Differential Absorption Lidar (DIAL) Atmospheric moisture profiling Radar and lidar for vegetation mapping Vegetation parameters, Above-ground biomass Hyperspectral MW sensors Atmospheric temperature, humidity and wind; sea/land surface temperature;

cloud amount, water content and top height/temperature; atmospheric composition (aerosols, ozone, greenhouse gases, trace gases)

Solar coronal magnetic field imagery, solar wind beyond L1

Solar wind, geomagnetic activity

Ionosphere/ thermosphere spectral imagery (e.g. GEO, HEO, MEO, LEO)

Ionospheric electron and major ion density Thermospheric neutral density and constituents

Contributed by WMO Members and third parties including governmental, academic or commercial initiatives that could augment the backbone elements and thus enhance the global observing system and its robustness. Complementarity to what already exists as well as enhancing resilience should be the guiding principles. 

Maintaining tools for users: WMO OSCAR/Space Database

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WMO Observing System Capability Analysis and 

Review tool (OSCAR)

• WMO‐maintained online resource with 3 components: – satellite programmes, instruments, and the variables they can observe 

(OSCAR/Space)

– surface‐based stations/platforms under WIGOS (OSCAR/Surface)

– observation requirements for 14 “application areas” and for all relevant variables (OSCAR/Requirements)

OSCAR/Space

OSCAR/Requirements

OSCAR/Surface

Variables Variables

• WIGOS Information Resource• Basis for WMO Rolling Review of Requirements

WMO OSCAR/SpaceTwo Components:

1. Factual information on satellites and instruments (“capabilities”)

– From 81 satellite operators, 673 satellites, 927 instruments– Weather and climate– Environmental monitoring– Space weather

2. Assessment of instruments, and gap analyses (“analysis and review”)‐ Mapping instruments to measured variables‐ “Gap analysis” by measured variable, or by type of mission

1100 page visits / day and growinghttps://www.wmo‐sat.info/oscar/spacecapabilities

OSCAR/ Space

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Example: Gap Analysis for Scatterometerfor Wind Speed over the Ocean

https://www.wmo‐sat.info/oscar/spacecapabilities

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Instrument types: Scatterometer

Total: 927

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Instrument: ASCAT

Relevance

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Relevance (by “Expert system”)

Result of Gap analysis 

Orbit

Flag instrument issueindicates “degradion” Result of Gap analysis 

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WMO opens new Regional Office in SingaporeAugust 21, 2017

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has opened a new office for the Asia‐Pacific region in Singapore to improve coordination on hazards ranging from floods to fires and to strengthen meteorological services for rapidly evolving economic sectors such as air and marine transport. The Regional Office is being hosted by the Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS) and will serve as the “nerve” centre for WMO’s programmes in the region.

Thank youMerci