Dr Alexander KarpovChief, Observing Systems Division

WWW Department

World Meteorological Organization

Weather – Climate - Water

RA III Regional Training Seminar on CLIMAT & CLIMAT TEMP Reporting

Buenos Aires, Argentina25-27 October 2006

Overview of theWorld Weather Watch

Operations

April 1963 - the Fourth Meteorological Congress enthusiastically adopted the idea of the World Weather Watch (WWW).

A fundamental principle was that the World Weather Watch,

- would be implemented and operated by Members themselves

- to the extent that their resources permitted, and

- in accordance with the agreed Plan

Implementation of WWW facilities

outside national territories

would be based on voluntary participation of countries providing equipment and services from their resources.

To assist States less able to contribute and to benefit from the global system, a

Voluntary Assistance Programme(now Voluntary Cooperation Programme)

was established.

•GARP became a synegeric research element for the development and planning of the WWW

The WWW still has three readily identifiable interconnected (integrated) components (also known as Basic Systems):

•Global Observing System (GOS)

•Global Telecommunication System(GTS)

•Global Data-processing and Forecasting System (GDPFS)

Adopted in 1967,

the WWW Plan and Implementation Programme has been reviewed and revised on several occasions,taking into account:

•The evolving needs of Members

•The possibilities offered by scientific & technological developments

In particular, Member’s Agreement on the integration of Obs, Telecoms and Processing had foreseen that:

•Each partner owes & operates its own system;

•Each partner agrees to use standards and conventions such that other partners can use his observations;

•Each partner agrees to interface specifications that his observations can be transmitted over the GTS and downloaded to be used by other partners;

•Each partner agrees to a specific level of data quality .

It soon became obvious that,

WWW Basic systems could also serve the needs of Members in other areas, e.g.

•GCOS

•GTOS

•GOOS/JCOMM

•WHyCOS

•GAW/WWRP, etc.

To predict the weather, modern meteorology depends upon near instantaneous exchange of weather information across the entire globe.

The World Weather Watch (WWW),the core of the WMO Programmes,combines observing systems,telecommunication facilities, and data-processing and forecasting centres -operated by Members – to make available meteorological and related geophysical information needed to provide efficient services in all countries.

The WWW is a unique achievement in international cooperation: in few other fields of human endeavour, and particularly in science and technology, is there - or has there ever been - such a truly world-wide operational system to which virtually every country in the world contributes, every day of every year, for the common benefit of mankind.

Through the WWW ProgrammeWMO Members coordinate and implementstandardization of measuring methods and techniques, common telecommunication procedures, and the presentation of observed dataand processed information in amanner which is understood by all,regardless of language. 

These arrangements, as well as the operation of the WWW facilities, are coordinated and monitored by WMO with a view to ensuring that every country has available all of the information it needs to provide weather services on a day-to-day basis as well as for long-term planning and research. 

An increasingly important part of the WWW Programme provides support for developing international programmes related to global climate and other environmental issues, and to sustainable development.

WMO Programme StructureWMO Programme Structure

World Weather Watch ProgrammeWorld Weather Watch Programme

Technical Co-operation ProgrammeTechnical Co-operation Programme

Education and Training ProgrammeEducation and Training Programme

WorldWorldClimateClimate

ProgrammeProgramme

AtmosphericAtmosphericResearch Research

and and EnvironmentEnvironmentProgrammeProgramme

ApplicationsApplicationsofof

MeteorologyMeteorologyProgrammeProgramme

HydrologyHydrologyandand

WaterWaterResourcesResourcesProgrammeProgramme

WMO/OMM

COMMISSION FOR BASIC COMMISSION FOR BASIC SYSTEMSSYSTEMS

Open Programme Area Groups (OPAGs):

• OPAG on Integrated Observing Systems (IOS)

• OPAG on Integrated System and Services (ISS)

• OPAG of Global Data-Processing and Forecasting Systems (DPFS)

• OPAG on Public Weather Services (PWS)

COMMISSION FOR BASIC SYSTEMSCOMMISSION FOR BASIC SYSTEMS

MANAGEMENT GROUP

President of CBS Vice-president of CBS

Chairs and Co-chairs of OPAGs

OPAG on Integrated

Observing Systems

OPAG on Information Systems

and Services

OPAG on Data Processing and Forecasting Systems

OPAG on Public Weather

Services

ICT on IOS

ET on Observational Data Requirements and

Redesign of the GOS

ET on Satellite Utilization and Products

ET on Satellite Systems

ET on Requirements for Data from

Automatic Weather Stations

Rapp. OSEs/OSSEs (Global)

Rapp. OSEs/OSSEs (Regional)

Rapp. GCOS Matters

Rapp. Regulatory Material

Rapp. Improuvement to Vol. A

Rapp. AMDAR

ICT on ISS

ET on Data Representation and Codes

ET on Migration to Table-driven Code Forms

Inter-programme Task Team on thze (Future)

WMO Information System

ET on Integrated Data Management

ET on Improved MTN and GTS

Steering Group on Radio- Frequency Coordination

ET on Enhanced Utilization of Data Communication Systems

Rapp. WWW Monitoring

ICT on DPFS

Emergency Response Activities -

Coordination Group

ET to Develop a Verification System on Long-range Forecast

ET on Infrastructure for Long-range Forecast

Rapp. Application of NWP to Severe Weather Forecasting

Rapp. Impact of Changes of the GOS on NWP

ICT on PWS

ET on Product Development and

Service Assessment

ET on Warnings and Forecasts, Exchange

Understanding and Use

ET on Media Issues

C I M O S t r u c tu r e

ET on Surface TechnologyChair + 8 M em bers

5 Representatives of other Bodies

ET on Surface-Based Instrum entIn tercoparisons and Calibration M ethods

Chair + 5 M em bers2 Representatives of other Bodies

ET on M eteoro logical Radiation andAtnospheric Com position Measurem ents

Chair + 3 M em bers3 Representatives of other Bodies

O PAGSurface O bservation Technology

2 C o-chairs

ET on Upgrad ing the G lobalRadiosonde Netw ork

Chair + 7 M em bers3 Representatives of other Bodies

ET on Upper-Air System sIntercom parisonsChair + 5 M em bers

1 Representative of other Body

ET on Rem ote Sensing Upper-AirTechnology and Techniques

Chair + 11 M em bers2 Representatives of other Bodies

O PAGUpper Air Observation Technology

3 C o-chairs

ET on Train ing Activitiesand Training M aterials

Chair + 6 M em bers

ET on R ICs, QM System s andCom m ercial Instrum ent In itiatives

Chair + 7 M em bers

ET on C IM O G uideand In form ation Dissem ination

Chair + 3 M em bers

O PAGCapacity B uilding

2 C o-chairs

CIM O M ANAG EM ENT G RO UPPresident

V ice-P resident7 O PAG C o-cairs

DATA MANAGEMENT

PRODUCT GENERATION

Global DataProcessing and

Forecasting System

GDPFS

DATA AND PRODUCT USERS

FLOW OF INFORMATION

DATA COLLECTION

GlobalObserving

System

GOS

DATA ANDPRODUCT

TRANSPORT

GlobalTelecommunication

System

GTS

WMO/OMM

Global Observing System:Global Observing System:

• Provides observations for all other WMO Provides observations for all other WMO programmes (including aviation, climate, programmes (including aviation, climate, agriculture, environment, disaster agriculture, environment, disaster prevention and mitigation)prevention and mitigation)

• Operated by National Meteorological Operated by National Meteorological ServicesServices

• Data requirements evolve with technologyData requirements evolve with technology

The Global Observing System of the WWW comprises surface and space-based subsystems;

data obtained are transmitted via the Global Tele-communication System to the Global Data-Processing & Forecasting System, where required information and products are produced and sent to the users.

Typical daily coverage of surface observations from land (red) and VOS (blue) stationsTypical daily coverage of surface observations from land (red) and VOS (blue) stations

At present over 11 000 manned and automatic weather stations on land and about 7 000 voluntary observing ships (VOS) at sea provide measurements and observations

Global Data-Processing Global Data-Processing and Forecasting System:and Forecasting System:

• World Meteorological CentresWorld Meteorological Centres

• Regional Specialized Meteorological CentresRegional Specialized Meteorological Centressuch as for example:such as for example:– Tropical Cyclone ForecastingTropical Cyclone Forecasting

– Environmental Emergency ResponseEnvironmental Emergency Response

• National Meteorological CentresNational Meteorological Centres

GLOBAL DATA PROCESSING AND FORECASTING SYSTEM

GDPS Centres running models

Muchas Gracias !Muchas Gracias !