WMO Manuals and Guides
WMO Manuals and Guides
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Manual on flood forecasting and warning
The Manual on Flood Forecasting and Warning provides the basic knowledge and guidance to develop or to set up an appropriate and tailored system for any case in which a flood forecasting and warning system is required. The aim is to provide a succinct but comprehensive overview of the basic knowledge and information that the relevant personnel of the National Meteorological or Hydrometeorological Services or other flood management service should require.
GCOS, 143. Guideline for the Generation of Datasets and Products Meeting GCOS Requirements*
World Meteorological Organization (WMO) ; United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP); International Council for Science (ICSU); et al. - WMO, 2010 (WMO/TD-No. 1530)This guideline is intended to help all producers of climate-relevant datasets (e.g., meteorological services, research institutions, oceanographic centres, environmental agencies, space agencies, universities) in the way they document, assess the quality of, and publicize their work related to the generation, processing and analysis of climate datasets and derived products (i.e. Fundamental Climate Data Records (FCDRs)2 and Essential Climate Variable products (ECV, cf. Annex I)), based on observations from surface-based, airborne and satellite-based instruments.
Guide to the Global Observing System
The main purpose of this guide is to provide practical information on the development, organization, implementation and operation of the Global Observing System in order to enhance both the participation of individual Members in the System and the benefits they may obtain from it. The Guide explains and describes Global Observing System practices, procedures and specifications and is aimed at assisting the technical and administrative staff of National Meteorological Services responsible for the networks of observing stations in preparing national instructions for observers.
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Manual on Stream Gauging
The Manual on Stream Gauging (WMO No. 519) was first released in 1980. Since then, however, there have been significant advances both in the approach and the methodologies employed.
Consequently, at its twelfth session (Geneva, October 2004), the WMO Commission for Hydrology (CHy) decided to meet the identified needs of the National Hydrological Services by revising the Manual to include the newer technologies that have been introduced over the period and are currently employed in this crucial field.
In this context, Volume I of the Manual on Stream Gauging encompasses the topics ...
Manual on Stream Gauging, Vol. I: Fieldwork
The Manual on Stream Gauging (WMO No. 519) was first released in 1980. Since then, however, there have been significant advances both in the approach and the methodologies employed.
Consequently, at its twelfth session (Geneva, October 2004), the WMO Commission for Hydrology (CHy) decided to meet the identified needs of the National Hydrological Services by revising the Manual to include the newer technologies that have been introduced over the period and are currently employed in this crucial field.
In this context, Volume I of the Manual on Stream Gauging encompasses the topics ...
Manual on Stream Gauging, Vol. II: Computation of discharge
The Manual on Stream Gauging (WMO No. 519) was first released in 1980. Since then, however, there have been significant advances both in the approach and the methodologies employed.
Consequently, at its twelfth session (Geneva, October 2004), the WMO Commission for Hydrology (CHy) decided to meet the identified needs of the National Hydrological Services by revising the Manual to include the newer technologies that have been introduced over the period and are currently employed in this crucial field.
In this context, Volume I of the Manual on Stream Gauging encompasses the topics ...
Public Weather Services - Summary Guide to Survey Design and Delivery : Based on the “Introduction to Survey Design and Delivery” produced by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Coastal Services Centre
This “Summary Guide to Survey Design and Delivery”, which is based on the publication “Introduction to Survey Design and Delivery” by NOAA Coastal Services Centre, has been produced as the result of the work of the Public Weather Services Expert Team on Services and Products Improvement (ET/SPI) mandated to provide guidance for National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) on developing user surveys and interpreting their results. It reflects attributes of a successful survey. The full text of the above publication can be viewed at the PWS Website.
PWS, 19. National Meteorological and Hydrological Services, Their Partners and User Communities : (Follow-up to the Madrid Action Plan - for Improved Social and Economic Benefits of Weather, Climate and Water Services)
This report has been prepared to build upon the Madrid Action Plan (MAP) that resulted from the WMO International Conference on Secure and Sustainable Living: Social and Economic Benefits of Weather, Climate and Water Services, Madrid, Spain, 19-22 March 2007, which is also known as the Madrid Conference. The report is presented in three parts and four appendices. The first section, Part I of the report relates to the Madrid Conference and the MAP. The MAP actions are analysed and proposals are made regarding the ways that both National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) and the ...
PWS, 20. Administrative Procedure for Registering WMO Alerting Identifiers
In applications and services which support alerting, it is necessary to identify various information objects. This document enables the registration of Object IDentifiers (OIDs) for alerting information, i.e., content included in alert messages or otherwise associated with the activity of alerting. The Registration Authority, World Meteorological Organization (WMO), maintains these OIDs and accepts requests through WMO Members for the assignment of additional OIDs for information objects relevant to alerting. This document specifies rules for the registration of all such OIDs subordinate to th ...
PWS-SG, 01. Communicating Forecast Uncertainty
This summary guide is for forecasters who are required to include uncertainty information in weather and climate forecasts and want to know the best way to present it. It provides advice on communicating probability forecasts, or other kinds of uncertainty information.
PWS-SG, 02. Communication, public eduction and outreach
This summary guide is for managers of forecast operations of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs). It is designed to help you make your services understood by the public, and to engage with the community so that they better understand what you do.
PWS-SG, 03. Communicating with the Public
This summary guide is for National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) staff who have to communicate a message to the public. It provides advice on how to broadcast effectively. If you are a meteorologist who broadcasts weather forecasts and information on radio or television, or a senior manager who holds press conferences, then this guide is for you.
PWS-SG, 04. Using Surveys to Evaluate Services
This summary guide is for Natjonal Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) staff who are required to measure the effectiveness of their services by undertaking surveys of the public. It provides advice on how to conduct surveys in order to discover the public perception and opinion of the services that NMHSs provide.
PWS-SG, 05. Working with the Media
This summary guide is for National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) staff who work with the media. It provides advice on how to approach media interviews, how to handle questions and what to do when faced with difficult situations.
Flood Management Tool Series, Technical Document, 09. Flood Management in a Changing Climate
This tool is an initiator and starting point on how flood management can be an autonomous part of an adaptation strategy to climate change. Flood managers have vast experience in managing floods under current climate variability. Floods are among the most widely cited expected impacts of global warming, either with an increased frequency or with increased magnitude in particular regions. As such climate change poses an additional challenge that needs a conscious strategic reorientation of flood management practices towards applying risk management techniques and involving a far broader set of ...
GCOS, 130. Synthesis of National Reports on Systematic Observation for Climate
World Meteorological Organization (WMO) ; United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP); International Council for Science (ICSU); et al. - WMO, 2009 (WMO/TD-No. 1490)
Getting your message across : Media Guide for WMO Information and Public Affairs Focal Points at National Meteorological and Hydrological Services
This “Media Guide” is designed as a working tool for WMO Information and Public Affairs focal points within NMHS to achieve the above objectives and facilitate their work of getting the weather, climate and water message out to the public at large.
This guide refers to basic concepts and approaches in dealing with the media, whether through one-on-one interviews, press conferences or briefings or by disseminating “news” via press releases or other means of communication, including the Internet. It is not aimed solely at media presenting forecasts, but also at reporters, editors and broa ...
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.
Flood Management Tool Series, Technical Document, 06. Urban Flood Risk Management
The tool aims to bring the different aspects of urban flood risks together under the umbrella of a risk management approach that aims to explain urban flood risks as well as to show possibilities of how they can be managed successfully. This tool argues that only the combination of spatial, technical and organizational measures will lead to a more sustainable and effective management of urban flood risks.
Operational hydrology report (OHR), 50. Manual on Low-flow Estimation and Prediction
The Manual's objective is to publish state-of-the-art analytical procedures for estimating and predicting low river flows at all sites, regardless of the availability of observational data. The Manual wil be useful for many applications, including water resources planning, effluent dilution estimates and water resources management during low-flow conditions.
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