Guidelines
WMO Guidelines
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OSCAR Series. OSCAR/Surface User Manual
The Observing Systems Capability Analysis and Review tool (OSCAR) of the WMO Integrated Global Observing System (WIGOS) Information Resource (WIR) is a key source of information for WIGOS metadata. The surface- and space-based components of OSCAR are intended to record observing platform/station metadata, according to the WIGOS Metadata Standard described in the Manual on the WMO Integrated Global Observing System (WMO-No. 1160) and in the WIGOS Metadata Standard (WMO-No. 1192), and to retain a record of the current and historical WIGOS metadata. This Manual explains how to use OSCAR/Surface, ...
SP, 13. WMO 2016 Survey on the Use of Satellite Data
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) commissioned the WMO 2016 Survey on the Use of Satellite Data to collect information on the availability and use of satellite data and products for meteorological and related environmental applications by users globally, and to identify obstacles and areas for improvement. WMO carries out this global Survey every four years, and the results from the previous 2012 Survey1 are used as a baseline in this report wherever possible.
SP, 12. Guidelines on Satellite Skills and Knowledge for Operational Meteorologists
This document describes the underpinning skills that support the WMO competencies that relate to the use of satellite data by operational meteorologists.
Step-by-step Guidelines for Establishing a National Framework for Climate Services
This document explains how to initiate and develop a functional NFCS that will serve as a key coordination mechanism to bring together the local, national, regional and global stakeholders needed for successful generation and delivery of co-designed and co-produced climate services with and for users, effectively linking climate knowledge with action on the ground at national and local levels.
Guidelines for the Assessment of Uncertainty for Hydrometric Measurement
In view of the increasing pressure on water resources, National Hydrological Services (NHSs) worldwide are faced with the challenge to deliver hydrological services of high quality, timeliness and proven credibility, to assist the decision making process of water and natural resources managers. Nowadays, it is commonly expected that these services must be based on information that includes an accurate assessment of its uncertainty. Stream discharge, the basic hydrological variable, is no exception, yet most measurements are still reported as a value without any information on its associated un ...
Guidelines on Best Practices for Achieving User Readiness for New Meteorological Satellites
The current publication presents, in an integrated manner, best practices for user-readiness projects performed by user organizations (for example, NMHSs) as well as for satellite development programmes in support of user readiness. Definitions of and a timeline for deliverables are presented that should be made available by the satellite development programmes to user-readiness projects. The best practices documented here therefore apply to both user organizations (section 3) and satellite operators (section 5). The primary audiences for this publication are Members of the Coordination Group ...
Guidelines for Nowcasting Techniques
The purpose of the WMO nowcasting guidelines presented here is to help National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) by providing them with information and knowledge on how to implement a nowcasting system with the resources available to them and an understanding of the current state of science and technology.
Guidelines on the Role, Operation and Management of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services
These Guidelines are intended to provide a one-stop, consistent and contemporary reference resource from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) for managers of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs). They should help with many of the challenges that directors and managers of NMHSs face, including:
– Ensuring that the NMHS is able to meet national needs for meteorological, hydrological and related data and services;
– Responding to newly identified challenges in a rapidly changing world;
– Clarifying and articulating the mandate of the NMHS;
– ...
WMO Guidelines on the Calculation of Climate Normals
The focus of this document is on observations at surface meteorological observing stations. However, many of the principles will also be valid for other forms of observations, including upper-air observations and datasets based on mobile or remotely sensed platforms (for example, satellites, radar or drifting buoys). In particular, as many key remotely sensed datasets begin in the 1970s, it is recommended that, where feasible, the current climatological standard normal period (1981–2010 at the time of writing) be used for these datasets to allow comparison among different data forms on a consi ...
WMO Guidelines on Generating a Defined Set of National Climate Monitoring Products (WMO-No. 1204)
The aim of this publication is to provide a specification for the shortlist of NCMPs that can be produced consistently and easily by most countries. By having clearly defined NCMPs, it should be possible for countries with fewer resources to focus their efforts on a small number of products that have wide applicability and interest.
Climate Services for Supporting Climate Change Adaptation : Supplement to the Technical Guidelines for The National Adaptation Plan Process
World Meteorological Organization (WMO) ; Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS) - WMO, 2016 (WMO-No. 1170)Because of the current and projected impacts on climate due to the high levels of greenhousegas (GHG) emissions, adaptation is a necessary strategy at all scales in a changing climate. At its 17th session, the Conference of Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) established the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process as a way to facilitate effective adaptation planning in Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and other developing countries. The four key elements that need to be undertaken in the development of NAPs are: Laying the groundwork and addressin ...
GAW Report, 227. WMO/GAW Aerosol Measurement Procedures, Guidelines and Recommendations
It is the goal of the Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) programme to ensure long - term measurements in order to detect trends in global distributions of chemical constituents in air and the reasons for them (WMO, 2001a). With respect to aerosols, the objective of GAW is to determine the spatio - temporal distribution of aerosol properties related to climate forcing and air quality on multi - decadal time scales and on regional, hemispheric and global spatial scales. The objective of GAW Report No. 153, published in 2003, was to provide a synthesis of methodologies and procedures for measuring the ...
Guidelines on Best Practices for Climate Data Rescue (WMO-No. 1182)
This technical document is an update of WMO/TD-1210, WCDMP-55, Guidelines on Climate Data Rescue (2004). It builds on the original Guidelines, while taking into account both changes in technology that have occurred in the intervening 12 years and lessons learned in more recent climate data rescue activities around the world. An overview of data rescue is presented with chapters on its importance, archiving original media, imaging, digitization and archiving digital images and digital data. Twelve appendices provide supporting information.
The Guidelines on Climate Data Rescue are intend ...
Project Management Guidelines and Handbook : Part I – Project Management Guidelines, Part II – Project Management Handbook
The Guidelines represent WMO’s approach to project management and outline key stages of the project life cycle that WMO staff should follow. The Handbook aims to help WMO to improve concrete processes and procedures related to project management and provides detailed guidance on how to go about each stage of the project life cycle.
WMO corporate visual identity guidelines
The corporate visual identity guidelines are aimed at strengthening the Organization’s identity through branding.
WMO Guidelines on Multi-hazard Impact-based Forecast and Warning Services
Improving the understanding of the potential impacts of severe hydrometeorological events poses a challenge to NMHSs and their partner agencies, particularly disaster reduction and civil protection agencies (DRCPAs). These Guidelines establish a road map that identifies the various milestones from weather forecasts and warnings to multi-hazard impact-based forecast and warning services.
For completeness, these Guidelines also describe the ultimate step of forecasting actual impacts, although it is recognized that this is a highly sophisticated exercise, requiring strong collaboration w ...
World Hydrological Cycle Observing System Guidelines
WHYCOS is a global concept, comprising a number of independent regional or basin-wide Hydrological Cycle Observing System (HYCOS) components. At the local level within a country, HYCOS brings together various agencies to work on delivering enhanced data and information products, such as the production and delivery of flood forecasts and warnings. An important complementary activity is the building of closer ties to communities and groups whose primary mandate benefits from access to the enhanced data, products and services, thereby achieving increased positive societal impacts. This contribute ...
2013 Supplement to the 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories - Wetlands : Methodological guidance on lands with wet and drained soils, and constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment
World Meteorological Organization (WMO) ; United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP); Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) - IPCC, 2014The 2013 Supplement to the 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories: Wetlands (Wetlands Supplement) extends the content of the 2006 IPCC Guidelines by filling gaps in coverage and providing updated information reflecting scientific advances, including updating emission factors. It covers inland organic soils and wetlands on mineral soils, coastal wetlands including mangrove forests, tidal marshes and seagrass meadows and constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment. The coverage of the 2006 IPCC Guidelines on wetlands was restricted to peatlands drained and managed for pea ...
Guidelines for Hydrological Data Rescue
These guidelines review the rationale for hydrological data rescue, the benefits to be derived therefrom, appropriate rescue methods, sound data management practices as well as data management systems, procedures for securing rescued data far into the future and for safeguarding data through storage in an international database.
Guidelines on the Preparation and Promulgation of the WMO Technical Regulations
The development of these Guidelines was prompted by the need to establish some common understanding, as well as rules and procedures, for those engaged in the preparation and promulgation of regulatory material in WMO. Their purpose therefore is to lay out principles and procedures with a view to improving the quality of the WMO Technical Regulations, Volume I to Volume IV and their annexes (manuals) and guides and ensure their consistency. The Guidelines are addressed to both technical commissions and other bodies drafting regulatory provisions (such as the Executive Council Panel of Experts ...
National Drought Management Policy Guidelines : a template for action
The implementation of a drought policy based on the philosophy of risk reduction can alter a nation’s approach to drought management by reducing the associated impacts (risk). This was the idea that motivated the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the Secretariat of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with a number of UN agencies, international and regional organizations, and key national agencies, to organize the Highlevel Meeting on National Drought Policy (HMNDP), which ...
GCOS, 171. The GCOS Reference Upper-Air Network (GRUAN): Guide
The GCOS Reference Upper‐Air Network (GRUAN) guide provides both mandatory operating requirements and guidelines on how to achieve the operating protocols specified in the GRUAN Manual (GCOS‐170). Mandatory operating protocols are distinguished by the words “must” or “shall” while guidelines are distinguished by the words “could” or “should”. The primary goals of GRUAN are to provide vertical profiles of reference measurements suitable for reliably detecting changes in global and regional climate on decadal time scales, initially for temperature, pressure and water vapour, with ...
Guidelines for Applying for a WMO Fellowship
This guide is intended to help Permanent Representatives of WMO (hereafter referred to as PRs) and potential candidates understand the purpose and benefits of the WMO Fellowship Programme. It will familiarize them with the application procedure, requirements, entitlements and available fellowship opportunities. It builds upon the Manual on Policies and Procedures for WMO Fellowships (WMO/TD-No. 1356, ETR-18) but takes into account the funding situation for the current financial period, identifying which elements of support can be offered within the available funding.
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Guidelines on the role, operation and management of National Meteorological or Hydrometeorological Services
These Guidelines are intended to provide a one-stop, consistent and up-to-date reference resource for everything managers need to know about running a National Meteorological or Hydrometeorological Service (NMS).
Guidelines for Trainers in Meteorological, Hydrological and Climate Services
This publication is intended for those involved in providing training for staff in a National Meteorological and Hydrological Service (NMHS) or related agencies. In particular, it aims to strengthen training departments and enhance the expertise of trainers by providing a reference manual and introductory guide. It includes guidance on the options available to ensure positive learning experiences for individuals and organizations.
PWS, 27. Guidelines for Implementation of Common Alerting Protocol (CAP)-Enabled Emergency Alerting
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Public Weather Services (PWS) Programme has the primary role of assisting National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) to develop or enhance their capacity to deliver services to the public, media, disaster managers and responders and other users in socio-economic sectors. The PWS Programme therefore assists NMHSs in their responsibility of providing warning and alerting services for the safety of life and livelihood, and property when threatened by extreme weather events such as heavy rain, heavy snow, strong winds, heat waves and extre ...
Guidelines on Ensemble Prediction Systems and Forecasting
Ensemble Prediction Systems (EPS) are numerical weather prediction (NWP) systems that allow us to estimate the uncertainty in a weather forecast as well as the most likely outcome. Instead of running the NWP model once (a deterministic forecast), the model is run many times from very slightly different initial conditions. Often the model physics is also slightly perturbed, and some ensembles use more than one model within the ensemble (multi-model EPS) or the same model but with different combinations of physical parameterization schemes (multi-physics EPS). Owing to the cost of running ...
PWS, 23. Proceedings of the WMO Regional Association VI Conference on Social and Economic Benefits of Weather, Climate and Water Services
The Conference provided material, and, in particular, a number of studies which are contained in these proceedings and which will be used in the development of guidelines on undertaking the analysis, assessment and demonstration of socio-economic benefits of meteorological and hydrological services. These guidelines will complement the development of demonstration and pilot projects and capacity-building and training activities on this subject. These proceedings represent the collection of abstracts of papers delivered at the Conference.
PWS, 24. Guidelines on the strategies for use of social media by National Meteorological and Hydrological Services
Increasingly, Social Media meet the information needs of individuals and communities. Social Media provide enormous opportunities for National Meteorololgical and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) to enhance the delivery of information and services and to interact with users to better understand their needs and interests. The purpose of these Guidelines is to assist NMHSs who may be considering the use of Social Media. The Guidelines address the challenges and highlight the benefits of Social Media, suggest some principles for an effective strategy, and encourage NMHSs to consider Social Media as ...
PWS, 25. Guidelines on Participation of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services in the WMO World Weather Information Service
This guide is targeted at NMHSs and is intended to demonstrate the benefits that NMHSs gain by participating in WWIS, and to provide step-by-step guidance for a National Meteorological or Hydrometeorological Service (NMS) wishing to either join the WWIS initiative or to enhance its level of participation. Templates of the standard forms that NMHSs would need to complete to join or enhance participation in the WWIS are also provided.
PWS, 26. Guidelines for Creating a Memorandum of Understanding and a Standard Operating Procedure between a National Meteorological or Hydrometeorological Service and a Partner Agency
Considering the crucial role of media in the delivery of warning and other essential meteorological information, it is important that NMHSs and respective national media organizations put in place formal agreements that will guide their collaborative work in serving the public. The CBS/OPAG-PWS Expert Team on Communication, Outreach and Public Education Aspects of PWS (ET/COPE) therefore decided to collaborate with the ET/DPM to prepare a set of guidelines, for use by NMHSs, for the establishment of such formal agreements between a National Meteorological or Hydrometeorological Service (NMS) a ...
SCOPE-CM Phase 2 Implementation Plan: Final Version
This document represents an update to the Implementation Plan for the Sustained and Coordinated Processing of Environmental Satellite Data for Climate Monitoring (SCOPECM) Version 1.3 of 20 March 2009 [RD-01]. Phase 2 of SCOPE-CM incorporates accomplishments and lessons learned from Phase 1, updated requirements and guidelines from the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS), and the evolving needs for climate information by a variety of users. A key component of Phase 2 is the establishment of sustained production of fundamental climate data records (FCDRs) as well as Essential Climate V ...
WCDMP, 77. Guidelines for the submission of the World Weather Records tenth series (2001-2010)
The World Weather Records (WWR) database contains historical monthly climatic data from land surface stations worldwide. First released in 1927, the WWR database has been widely employed in operational climate monitoring, international climate assessments, and numerous other applications. To date, there have been nine editions of WWR, the first containing data up through 1920, with each successive release containing data for another decade (i.e., 1921-1930, 1931- 1940, 1941-1950, 1951-1960, 1961-1970, 1971-1980, 1981-1990, 1991- 2000). Since its inception, WWR has been produced by three ...
WWRP, 2012-1. Recommended Methods for Evaluating Cloud and Related Parameters
World Meteorological Organization (WMO) ; WWRP/WGNE Joint Working Group on Forecast Verification Research (JWGFVR) - WMO, 2012Cloud errors can have wide-reaching impacts on the accuracy and quality of outcomes, most notably, but not exclusively, on temperature. This is especially true for weather forecasting, where cloud cover has a significant impact on human comfort and wellbeing. Whilst public perception may not be interested in absolute precision, i.e. whether there were 3 or 5 okta of cloud, there is anecdotal evidence to suggest strong links between the perceptions of overall forecast accuracy and whether the cloud was forecast correctly, mostly because temperature errors often go hand-in-hand. It is therefore ...
Contributions by the World Meteorological Organization to the Millenium Development Goals
For developing countries, particularly LDCs (Least Developed Countries), this publication provides guidelines on enhancing the contribution of WMO and NMHSs (National Meteorological and Hydrological Services) to the achievement of the MDGs (Millenium Development Goals). Benefiting from the GFCS (Global Framework for Climate Services), NMHSs should be encouraged to use these guidelines, among others, to mainstream their activities, including generation and effective delivery of relevant weather-, climate- and water-related information and services into national sustainable development strategie ...
JCOMM Technical Report, 57. Extreme value analysis: wave data
World Meteorological Organization (WMO) ; Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) - WMO, 2011In this report we begin by describing and discussing approaches that can be used to estimate such return values in Chapter 2. Approaches based on extreme value theory as well as ad hoc methods are considered. We then present in Chapter 3 some worked examples using two time series of significant wave height measurements, one in deep and the other in shallow waters. In Chapter 4 we provide an inventory of software packages available to carry out extreme value analyses. We finish in Chapter 5 with some guidelines / recommendations.
JCOMM Technical Report, 58. Extreme value analysis: still water level
World Meteorological Organization (WMO) ; Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) - WMO, 2011In this report we begin by describing and discussing approaches based on extreme value theory that can be used to estimate return values of SWL in Chapter 2. We then present in Chapter 3 a worked example using a long-term time series of still water level measurements processed and quality-checked by the Dutch Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management. They are the measurements of the gauge located at Hoek van Holland, The Netherlands (see Figure 3.1), available from 1887 onwards. In Chapter 4 we provide an inventory of software packages available to carry out extreme value analy ...
PWS, 22. Guidelines on international and cross-border collaboration in the warning process
This document provides guidelines on international collaboration in the warning process for severe weather threats and extreme conditions (heat wave, cold wave, drought, storm surge, avalanches, flooding.) It discusses general principles regarding cross-border exchange of warnings, and includes the role of the media in raising the public’s expectations, focus on public safety, threshold criteria and the scope of cooperation. It also presents examples from different parts of the world to illustrate the factors to be considered in developing international or cross-border collaborations in the wa ...
GAW Report, 191. Instruments to Measure Solar Ultraviolet Radiation : part 4: Array Spectroradiometers
World Meteorological Organization (WMO) ; Bais A.; Bernhard G.; et al. - WMO, 2010 (WMO/TD-No. 1538)This paper is part four of a series of documents dedicated to instruments for the measurement of solar ultraviolet radiation. The series of documents has been drawn up by the WMO Scientific Advisory Group on UV Monitoring and the UV Instrumentation Subgroup. The aim of the series is to define instrument specifications and guidelines for instrument characterization that are needed for reliable UV measurements.
GAW Report, 192. Guidelines for the Measurement of Atmospheric Carbon Monoxide
The Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) Programme of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) aims at providing reliable long-term observations of the chemical composition and physical properties of the atmosphere that are relevant for understanding atmospheric chemistry and climate change. Reactive gases are one of the foci of the GAW programme. This group includes carbon monoxide (CO), which is present only in trace quantities in the atmosphere but plays an important role in atmospheric chemistry. Compatibility of data from different observational platforms and sites is of crucial importance fo ...
Guidelines for converting between various wind averaging periods in tropical cyclone conditions
World Meteorological Organization (WMO) ; Kepert Jeffrey David; Ginger J.D. - WMO, 2010 (WMO/TD-No. 1555)
PWS, 21. Guidelines on early warning systems and application of nowcasting and warning operations
In 2010, a historic heat wave and numerous wildfires impacted Moscow and surrounding areas in the Russian Federation. At the same time, catastrophic flooding from unusually heavy monsoon rains was ongoing in Pakistan. Both events led to many fatalities and considerable human suffering. As climate change due to anthropogenic forcing continues, extreme weather events such as these are likely to become more common (IPCC 2007), further increasing the need for preparedness and early warning systems.
The need for robust early warning systems goes beyond purely natural disasters and extend ...
GCOS, 128. Guideline for the Generation of Satellite-based Datasets and Products meeting GCOS Requirements
World Meteorological Organization (WMO) ; United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP); International Council for Science (ICSU); et al. - WMO, 2009 (WMO/TD-No. 1488)This document provides a short summary of GCOS requirements for satellite-based climate monitoring that can serve as a guideline for the generation of satellite-based datasets and derived products in order to meet the requirements for climate monitoring and the long-term aspects of climate research.
These guidelines are intended to help space agencies and other relevant institutions in the way they process and analyze datasets obtained from satellite instruments, to subsequently generate Essential Climate Variable (ECV) products (cf. Annex I and III).
WCDMP, 70. Guidelines for Plant Phenological Observations
The technical document on the guidelines for plant phenological observations raises the benefits of these types of observations in monitoring the impact of the changing climate on an important biosphere element of the climate system which is vegetation. The content of the document was elaborated by experts in climatology and biometeorology in a multidisciplinary team work approach. The guidelines included in the document are based on scientifically recognized principles and good practices undertaken by several institutions having long experience in carrying out plant phonological observations ...
WCDMP, 72. Guidelines on Analysis of extremes in a changing climate in support of informed decisions for adaptation
World Meteorological Organization (WMO) ; Zwiers Francis W.; Zhang Xuebin - WMO, 2009 (WMO/TD-No. 1500)
Weather Forecasting for Soaring Flight (WMO-No. 1038), TN 203
World Meteorological Organization (WMO) ; Organisation Scientifique et Technique Internationale du Vol à Voile (OSTIV) - WMO, 2009 (WMO-No. 1038)The aim of this handbook - prepared by Organisation Scientifique et Technique Internationale du Vol à Voile (OSTIV) - is to provide the reader an internationally agreed set of guidelines for meteorological forecasting in soaring flight and related activities.
Flood Management Tool Series, Technical Document, 04. Organizing Community Participation for Flood Management
This tool provides general guidelines for effectively organizing community activities to ensure participation at various levels of decision-making and capacity building in flood management. Several issues related to the engagement of flood managers, NGOs, and policy makers in harmonizing community activities with other development policies and natural disaster, are also addressed to build necessary institutional frameworks to enhance community participation.
PWS, 18. Guidelines on Communicating Forecast Uncertainty
World Meteorological Organization (WMO) ; Martin Claire; Cacic Ivan; et al. - WMO, 2008 (WMO/TD-No. 1422)Communicating the uncertainty of the forecast is vital to users. It allows them to make better decisions that are attuned to the reliability of the forecast. It also helps to manage the expectations of users for accurate forecasts. These Guidelines address the issue of communicating forecast uncertainty. Although they include a discussion on the sources of uncertainty, and touch on the related science (e.g. probabilistic forecasting, the use of Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) ensembles), this is not their focus. Rather, the emphasis is on how National Meteorological and Hydrological Servic ...
PWS, 15. Guidelines on capacity building strategies in Public Weather Services
Weather affects virtually every person on the planet, every day of the year. Consequently information on past, present and future weather conditions plays an important part in planning our daily lives. Although the provision of weather and climate information to the community at large has long been one of the main responsibilities of the National Meteorological Services (NMHSs) of the now 188 Member States and Territories of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), it is only during the past decade that most NMHSs have begun to focus their efforts on the provision of the highest possible ...
PWS, 16. Supplement to Guidelines on Biometeorology and Air Quality Forecasts
This document has been produced as a supplement to “Guidelines on Biometeorology and Air Quality Forecasts” WMO/TD No. 1184. It addresses the specific aspects of human biometeorology related to human disease, which was not included in that publication. It should be consulted in conjunction with WMO/TD No. 1184. The guidelines are intended to provide useful advice to National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) on methods of incorporating air quality forecasts and biometeorological information into the suite of products and services offered to the public. The Public We ...
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Agricultural Meteorology Programme (AgMP), 99. Fire in Forests, Rangelands and Agricultural Systems
The report gives an overview of the data needs for fire advisories such as fire danger and fire behavior meteorology, fire weather forecasting, and fire and air quality/smoke management. The report summarizes the use of observation networks in fire meteorology and mesoscale meteorological modeling for fire meteorology and air quality and it reviews the World Health Organization Health Guidelines for Episodic Vegetation Fire Events. The report concludes by discussing the future challenges and needs in the field such as automated weather stations, mesoscale meteorological models and fire ...
Climate Watch System Early Warning against Climate Anomalies and Extremes
This brochure provides a summary of the Guidelines on Climate Watches (WCDMP-No. 58; WMO/TD-No. 1269) of April 2005, in accordance with the climate watch definition approved by the Commission for Climatology at its fourteenth session, held in Beijing from 3 to 10 November 2005.
Operational hydrology report (OHR), 49. Guidelines on the role, operation and management of National Hydrological Services
Providing guidance to the senior managers of Hydrological Services, on the key issues they might face, as they lead, manage and administer their services. All aspects of management are reviewed: strategic planning, human resources management, financial management, marketing, asset management, process and quality management, relationships with other institutions. This publication is especially important at a time when NHSs worldwide are typically having their mandate expanded from basic hydrology to hydrology in the broader context of sustainable water resources management.
World Hydrological Cycle Observing System (WHYCOS) Guidelines
The Guidelines should help achieve the objectives of the International Decade for Action "Water for Life" (2005–2015). They are designed to serve as guidance for the main stages of project formulation and implementation including initiation, development, realization and management, as well as monitoring and evaluation, of HYCOS projects. It is expected that the information in this brochure should allow for the exchange of experience, data and information among development projects and activities and thereby help in developing and improving the implementation of HYCOS components.
PWS, 12. Guidelines on Weather Broadcasting and the Use of Radio for Delivery of Weather Information
PWS, 10. Guidelines on biometeorology and air quality forecasts
These guidelines are intended to provide useful advice to National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMSs) on methods of incorporating air quality forecasts and biometeorological information into the suite of products and services offered to the public.The guidelines were developed by the Public Weather Services (PWS) Expert Team on Product Development and Service Assessment at the request of the Commission on Basic Systems (CBS). It is acknowledged that several NMSs already provide this type of information and some others are on the verge of developing an air quality programme. Howeve ...
Guidelines for the education and training of personnel in meteorology and operational hydrology - Volume II: Hydrology
World Meteorological Organization (WMO) ; Drãghici I.F.; Hall M.J.; et al. - WMO, 2003 (fourth ed.; WMO-No. 258)This publication deals with the classification of hydrological personnel and curricula for their initial qualification and early specialization in hydrology within the broader context of integrated water resources management. It is aimed to assist educators and managers in designing and implementing eduction and training programmes.
Guidelines for the education and training of personnel in meteorology and operational hydrology - Vol.1 Meteorology
World Meteorological Organization (WMO) ; Necco G.V.; Riddaway R.W.; et al. - WMO, 2002 (fourth ed.; WMO-No. 258)
PWS, 07. Supplementary guidelines on performance assessment of public weather services
The purpose of this Technical Document which is intended as a supplement to WMO/TD No. 1023, is to provide further elaboration of the concepts portrayed in WMO/TD No. 1023 and to re-enforce understanding through the provision of practical examples and models employed by various NMSs. Issues pertaining to some of the limitations of performance assessments are also discussed. Additionally, issues that require further investigation are highlighted. One broad area where further assessment focus is desirable is that of delivery of services as opposed to production of services
PWS, 02. Weather on the internet and other new technologies
The purpose of this Technical Document is to provide guidelines which deal primarily with the provision of weather services to the general public through the Web. However, for completeness, weather services that are more appropriate to the specialized user are also mentioned.
PWS, 04. Guidelines on graphical presentation of public weather services products
A major downside to the rapid developments in communications technology, however, is in the area of graphics.On the one hand, developments in computer technology enable production of a vast array of graphic material, and on the other hand, lack of formal training to produce expertise in communication graphics has resulted in a scarcity of individuals with design capabilities. These guidelines attempt to bridge this gap. They are intended to provide information and assistance on how to develop graphics to suit the unique needs and circumstances of NMSs. They identify relevant graphic design pri ...
Guidelines on performance assessment of public weather services
The purpose of this Technical Document is to provide broader guidance on performance assessment of public weather services, with something of an emphasis on forecasts and warnings. An assessment programme can be seen in the context of a quality system, where it is important to ensure that the information gathered and processed is focussed on user requirements, to be used in making decisions and taking actions to improve performance, rather than just being gathered for the sake of it. In essence, the object of the exercise is to ensure a sustainable and cost-effective system delivering quality ...
Guide on the Automation of Data-Processing Centres
Provides advice to National Meteorological Services (particularly small services) envisaging the automation of all or some of their data-processing facilities or expanding automation. General guidelines are presented for decision-makers on what to automate and how to do so, including securing the necessary financial resources. Other aspects covered include system design, installation and maintenance and contractual and personnel considerations. Configuration examples are given.
Exchanging meteorological data: guidelines on relationships in commercial meteorological activities - WMO policy and practice
This publication provides basic information relevant to the understanding and implementation of Resolution 40 (Cg-XII) - WMO policy and practice for the exchange of meteorological and related data and products including guidelines on relationships in commercial meteorological activities, which is reproduced in full therein.
Compendium of lecture notes in marine meteorology for class III and class IV personnel
This compendium covers the syllabuses for the specialized training of Class II and Class IV personnel in marine meteorology (see third edition of Guidelines for the education and training of personnel in meteorology and operational hydrology (WMO-No. 258)). As the title indicates, the compendium contains extensive notes, on which students and instructors are expected to enlarge. The compendium is concerned with the atmosphere over the oceanic regions of the globe and also with the uppermost layers of the sea. It begins with a survey of the geography and basic properties of the ocean and then f ...
WCDP, 03. Guidelines on the quality control of data from the world radiometric network
World Meteorological Organization (WMO) ; World Radiation Data Centre Voeikov Main Geophysical Observatory; USSR State Committee for Hydrometeorology - WMO, 1987 (WMO/TD-No. 258)
WCDP, 04. Input format guidelines for World Radiometric Network Data
World Meteorological Organization (WMO) ; World Radiation Data Centre Voeikov Main Geophysical Observatory - WMO, 1987 (WMO/TD-No. 253)
Urban climatology and its applications with special regard to tropical areas : proceedings of the Technical Conference
The incorporation of climatological principles in urban design was seen by the conference to be vitally urgent and this publication contains 20 papers presenting examples and suggestions. The siting of new towns and certain hazardous industrial facilities are treated and general guidelines given for urban design in both hot and dry, and hot and humid climates.
WCP, 85. Guidelines on the quality control of surface climatological data
This paper describes various methods which can be used for the quality control of meteorological data. A range of methods are covered, from very basic checks for correct coding, to time and areal consistency. Homogeneity of the data is dealt with separately.
Guide on the automation of data-processing centres
Provides advice to National Meteorological Services (particularly small services) envisaging automating all or some of their data-processing facilities or expanding automation. General guidelines are presented for decision makers on what to automate and how to do so, including securing the necessary financial resources. Other aspects covered include system design, installation and maintenance and contractual and personnel considerations. Configuration examples are given.
Guidelines for computerized data processing in operational hydrology and land and water management : joint FAO/ WMO publication
World Meteorological Organization (WMO) ; Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) - WMO, 1985 (WMO-No. 634)This publication provides an introduction to the concepts, terminology and application of computerized data processing for land and water experts.
Part I covers the common principles and practices of data processing.
Part II deals specifically with computer applications for hydrological data.
Lecture notes for training class IV Agricultural Meteorological personnel
Aimed at agrometeorological observers whose duties are to observe crops, pastures, soils, etc. and to check, process or analyse such data, these lecture notes contain guidelines on agrometeorological, phenological, state-of-the-crops and soilmoisture observations, as well as determination of the agro-hydrological properties of the soil, visual observations on the wetness of the topsoil and agrometeorological observations on pastures.
Guidelines for disaster prevention and preparedness in tropical cyclone areas
World Meteorological Organization (WMO) ; Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC); League of Red Cross Societies - WMO, 1977
Compendium of lecture notes in marine meteorology for class III and class IV personnel
This compendium covers the syllabuses for the specialized training of Class II and Class IV personnel in marine meteorology (see third edition of Guidelines for the education and training of personnel in meteorology and operational hydrology (WMO-No. 258)). As the title indicates, the compendium contains extensive notes, on which students and instructors are expected to enlarge. The compendium is concerned with the atmosphere over the oceanic regions of the globe and also with the uppermost layers of the sea. It begins with a survey of the geography and basic properties of the ocean and then f ...
Climatological aspects of the composition and pollution of the atmosphere
This report offers some practical guidelines on the processing and use of regular surface and upper-air observations in terms of their climatological influence on transport and diffusion of air pollutants. The concept of a meteorological potential for air pollution is discussed. An attempt was made to include examples of pertinent climatological data for various parts of the world but in fact the data are limited to temperate and northern latitudes of the northern hemisphere. There is a paucity of available meteorological studies relative to air pollution in the tropics, which, unfortunately, ...
WMO data on UNdata
WMO data provide the basis for better understanding the climatology of severe weather and extreme events such as tropical cyclones, El Niño, floods, heat waves, cold waves, droughts and other natural hazards, contributing to saving both lives and property, and improving our understanding and monitoring of the climate system and environment. WMO has drawn attention to issues of major concern, such as ozone layer depletion, global warming, climate change and diminishing water resources.
WMO enhances the application of meteorological and hydrological information for the security and well-b ...
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