| Media centre |
 |
Media centre
Press releases
No. 878 - HIGH-LEVEL TASK FORCE FOR CLIMATE SERVICES STARTS WORK AT WMO
Geneva, 26 February 2010 (WMO) The first meeting of the High-Level Taskforce for climate services selected Jan Egeland of Norway and Mahmoud Abu-Zeid of Egypt as co-chairs. The High Level Taskforce of independent advisers, which the Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Michel Jarraud, was requested by a decision of the World Climate Conference-3 to establish a Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS), is meeting on 25-26 February, at the WMO Headquarters in Geneva. >> full text
No. 877 - FUTURE STRATEGY TO IMPROVE CLIMATE INFORMATION AND SERVICES AGREED AT GLOBAL MEETING
Geneva, 1 March 2010 (WMO) – Over 150 participants representing 88 countries and three international organizations met at the Fifteenth Session of the Commission for Climatology (CCl) of World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in Antalya, Turkey from 19 to 24 February 2010 and agreed on a future strategy to provide improved climate information and services. In many parts of the world, weather and climate are amongst the biggest risk and uncertainty factors that affect a broad range of socio-economic sectors. Decision makers in these sectors need information for planning, operations, risk management and for adaptation to both climate change and variability covering a wide range of time scales. Their needs would be better served through more readily available and reliable climate information and knowledge, and by access to and use of related tools and products, as proposed in the Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS). >> full text
No. 876 - EXPERTS AT GLOBAL MEETING DISCUSS ACTION PLAN FOR IMPROVED CLIMATE PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
Geneva/Antalya, 22 February 2010 (WMO) – Climate change challenge is indeed real and every social, economic and environmental sector is critically susceptible to climate variability and change. Some 150 experts from all over the world participating in the Fifteenth Session of the Commission for Climatology of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) are discussing an action plan for providing improved climate services to the global community, which includes the establishment of Open Panel of Experts that will focus on thematic areas including climate data management, global and regional climate monitoring and assessment, climate products and services and climate information for adaptation and risk management. >> full text
No. 875 - INTERNATIONAL EXPERTS ADDRESS SOCIETAL NEEDS FOR CLIMATE SERVICES
Geneva/Antalya, 16 February 2010 (WMO) – More than 150 scientists from over 80 countries are meeting this week in Antalya, as governments, communities, businesses and resource managers are increasingly challenged to develop and implement programs, policies and procedures that reduce their vulnerability to climate change and climate variability. >> full text
No. 874 - HAITI NEEDS METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES AS RAINS/HURRICANES APPROACH
Geneva, 9 February 2010 (WMO) – The World Meteorological Organization stresses the pressing need for operational meteorological services in Haiti to prevent further disasters. The rainy season with flood risk is due early April and the hurricane season begins early June. In order to prevent potential disasters related to the natural hazards, which the country is prone to the capacity of Haiti to produce and disseminate weather information and warnings needs to be developed without delay. Weather forecasts and early warnings from the Haiti National Meteorological Center are essential for national authorities, humanitarian and development agencies and the people for emergency contingency planning and recovery. >> full text
No. 873 - WMO COMMISSION TO ENHANCE METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES FOR AVIATION
Geneva, 3 February 2010 (WMO) – Three quarters of significant air traffic delays in regions with high traffic density are related to weather and nearly half of aircraft accidents occur during operations in adverse weather. Planning and operation of air transport based on global standards and accurate weather forecasts and warnings is vital for safety. Some 150 representatives from National Meteorological and Hydrological Services, including aeronautical meteorologists and representatives from aviation organizations, will meet from 3 to 10 February 2010 in Hong Kong, China. >> full text
Chinese
No. 872 - EXPERTS AGREE ON A UNIVERSAL DROUGHT INDEX TO COPE WITH CLIMATE RISKS
Copenhagen, Geneva, 15 December 2009 (WMO) – With climate change, the frequency and magnitude of droughts are very likely to increase. In the “Lincoln Declaration on Drought Indices”, fifty-four experts from all regions agreed on the use of a universal meteorological drought index for more effective drought monitoring and climate risk management. >> full text
No. 871 - 55 MILLION PEOPLE AFFECTED BY EXTREME WEATHER DISASTERS IN 2009
Copenhagen, 14 December 2009 (ISDR/WMO/UNDP) – Over three quarters of the people killed - and 95 % of the total affected by natural hazards - since the beginning of the year were due to extreme weather events said Ms. Margareta Wahlström, the United Nations Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction, based on the preliminary 2009 disaster figures. >> full text
No. 870 - INTERNATIONAL EXPERTS TO RECOMMEND STANDARD DROUGHT INDICES
Geneva, 9 December 2009 (WMO) – In light of climate change, the frequency and severity of droughts are likely to increase. New developments in indices and early warning systems for droughts are key components for mitigating their impacts. More than 60 scientists from all regions are meeting this week in Lincoln, Nebraska (USA) to recommend standard drought indices for various types of droughts and to develop guidelines for countries in implementing and improving drought early warning systems. >> full text
No. 869 - 2000–2009, THE WARMEST DECADE
| |
 |
| |
Global Surface Temperature Trend : Result from three Global datasets: NOAA (NCDC Dataset) , NASA (GISS dataset) and combined Hadley Center and Climate Research Unit of the University of East Anglia (UK) (HadCRUT3 dataset) |
Geneva, 8 December 2009 (WMO) – The year 2009 is likely to rank in the top 10 warmest on record since the beginning of instrumental climate records in 1850, according to data sources compiled by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The global combined sea surface and land surface air temperature for 2009 (January–October) is currently estimated at 0.44°C ± 0.11°C (0.79°F ± 0.20°F) above the 1961–1990 annual average of 14.00°C/57.2°F. The current nominal ranking of 2009, which does not account for uncertainties in the annual averages, places it as the fifth-warmest year. The decade of the 2000s (2000–2009) was warmer than the decade spanning the 1990s (1990–1999), which in turn was warmer than the 1980s (1980–1989). More complete data for the remainder of the year 2009 will be analysed at the beginning of 2010 to update the current assessment.>> full text
Arabic Chinese Russian
No. 868 - WMO GREENHOUSE GAS BULLETIN 2008 - Main Greenhouse Gases Reach Highest Level Ever Since Pre-Industrial Time
23 November 2009 (WMO) - Levels of most greenhouse gases continue to increase. In 2008, global concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide, which are the main long-lived greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, have reached the highest levels recorded since pre-industrial times. Since 1990, the overall increase in radiative forcing caused by all long-lived greenhouse gases is 26% and the increase was 1.3% from 2007 to 2008. These latest figures, published today in the World Meteorological Organization’s (WMO) 2008 Greenhouse Gas Bulletin, confirm the continued trend of rising atmospheric burdens of greenhouse gases since 1750. >> full text
Chinese Russian Arabic
No. 867 - ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH TO ENHANCE WARNINGS AND REDUCE RISK
Geneva, 18 November 2009 (WMO) — Never before have severe weather, climate, water and air quality forecasts been as necessary as they are today. Experts in atmospheric research from all regions are meeting this week (18 to 25 November 2009) in Incheon, Republic of Korea, to discuss future international research to improve forecasts and assessments; and development of carbon tracking tools necessary in climate mitigation and adaptation. >> full text
No. 866 - EXTREME EVENTS ONLY BECOME DISASTERS WHEN WE FAIL TO PREPARE FOR THEM
On 14 October - International Day for Disaster Reduction
Geneva, 14 October 2009 (WMO) - Disasters continue to cause considerable impacts on lives, livelihoods and property. In the last few days, the world has witnessed, once again, the negative impacts of hazards, causing the loss of life of thousands of people. However, in the last five decades, while the economic losses associated with weather-, water,- and climate-related hazards have increased on a global scale by a factor of 50, loss of life has decreased by a factor of 10. This has been attributed to the development of effective early warning systems in countries with recurrent risk of hazards. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO), today celebrating the International Day for Disaster Reduction, is working with its international partners and its 188 Members around the world to integrate early warning systems into emergency preparedness and response, and learn from good practices. >> full text
No. 865 - INTERNATIONAL RELEASE OF MANUAL FOR MARITIME SAFETY INFORMATION
On 24 September - World Maritime Day devoted to climate change
Geneva, 24 September 2009 (WMO) — The World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) are jointly releasing a new edition of a Manual on Maritime Safety Information, which supersedes the manual first issued back in 1996 and revised in 2003. It will come into force on 1 January 2011, after required actions by Member states. This new edition provides a practical guide for anyone who is concerned with drafting navigational warnings or with the issuance of meteorological forecasts and warnings under the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS). This is even more important with the increasing use of polar maritime routes. >> full text
Russian
No. 864 - RADIOCOMMUNICATION FOR METEOROLOGY TO COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE
WMO/ITU seminar focuses on monitoring and prediction of weather, water and climate
Geneva, 18 September 2009 (WMO / ITU) — The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) held the first joint seminar on the use of radio spectrum for meteorology, aimed at weather, water and climate monitoring and prediction. >> full text
No. 863 - WMO UPDATE ON THE INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE OZONE LAYER
Geneva, 16 September 2009 (WMO) – While the world is celebrating today the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone layer, the 2009 Antarctic ozone hole, which appeared earlier than usual, is similar in size to those of recent years, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). “This year’s ozone hole confirms earlier WMO statements that we must be prepared for severe ozone holes as long as the atmospheric contents of ozone depleting gases remains high” said Michel Jarraud, WMO Secretary-General. “Now that we are less than 100 days away from the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, it remains vital for all Member Sates with stratospheric measurement programmes to continue supporting and enhancing such measurements.” >> full text
No. 862 - AFRICAN MINISTERS RESPONSIBLE FOR METEOROLOGY TO MEET TO STRENGTHEN CLIMATE SERVICES
Geneva, 4 September 2009 (WMO) – For the first time ever, African Ministers responsible for meteorology will meet to address ways of strengthening weather, climate and water information for decision-making. >> full text
No. 861 - WORLD CLIMATE CONFERENCE - 3 ESTABLISHES A GLOBAL FRAMEWORK FOR CLIMATE SERVICES
Geneva, 3 September 2009 – World Climate Conference-3 (WCC-3), which has brought together from 31 August to 4 September 2009, in Geneva, Switzerland, more than 2 000 climate scientists, sectoral experts and decision-makers today established a Global Framework for Climate Services “to strengthen production, availability, delivery and application of science-based climate prediction and services.” >> full text
Arabic Chinese Russian
No. 860 - WCC - 3: WORKING TO MAKE CLIMATE SERVICES AVAILABLE TO ALL
(Geneva, Switzerland, 31 August – 4 September 2009)
Geneva, 31 August 2009 – Experts and politicians from around the world are meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, this week to ensure that the current and future generations have access to the climate predictions and information necessary for various socio-economic sectors to cope with climate variability and change. This will be done in particular by identifying the key components required for a Global Framework for Climate Services. >>full text
Arabic Chinese Russian
No. 859 - GOVERNMENTS TO TAKE DECISIVE ACTION FOR CLIMATE ADAPTATION AT WORLD CLIMATE CONFERENCE - 3
(Geneva, Switzerland, 31 August – 4 September 2009)
Geneva, 25 August 2009 – The international community has an unprecedented opportunity to take action for adapting to current and future climate at World Climate Conference-3 (WCC-3), from 31 August to 4 September 2009. Some 1 500 policy-makers and decision-makers from more than 150 countries will interact with scientific experts to take practical steps to adapt to climate variability and change. To date, some 20 Heads of State and/or Government and about 80 ministers are expected to participate in the High-level Segment (3 - 4 September) of the Conference. >> full text
Arabic Chinese Russian
No. 858 - EL NIÑO ESTABLISHED AND VERY LIKELY TO CONTINUE THROUGH 2009
Geneva, 19 August 2009 (WMO) – An El Niño event has begun in the tropical Pacific. These conditions are very likely to continue at least through the remainder of 2009 and probably into the first quarter of 2010, according to the El Niño/La Niña Update issued today by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). >>full text
Arabic Chinese Russian
No. 857 -SOUTH-EAST EUROPE TO STRENGTHEN REGIONAL CAPACITY FOR REDUCING RISK OF NATURAL DISASTER
Geneva, 6 July 2009 (WMO) – The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) are collaborating to reduce disaster risk throughout South-East Europe. A new project, supported by the European Commission, seeks to enhance risk assessment and early warning systems for weather and climate extremes through strengthened cross-border cooperation and coordination among weather and climate information providers and disaster management agencies. >> full text
No. 856 -EFFORTS UNDER WAY TOWARDS A GLOBAL FRAMEWORK FOR CLIMATE SERVICES
Geneva, 30 June 2009 (WMO) – The climate challenge calls for a two-pronged approach: mitigation and adaptation. Intensive negotiations are ongoing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change. Meanwhile, the international community is developing tools for adapting to climate variability and change. World Climate Conference-3 (WCC-3) to be held from 31 August to 4 September 2009 in Geneva, Switzerland, aims at initiating a Global Framework for Climate Services to boost climate adaptation. >> full text
Arabic Chinese Russian
No. 855 -MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS TO REVOLUTIONIZE AFRICAN WEATHER MONITORING
GENEVA, 18 June 2009 (GHF/WMO/Ericsson/Zain) – The Global Humanitarian Forum and its President, former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, together with Ericsson, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), mobile telecommunications company Zain, and the Earth Institute at Columbia University today announced a major initiative, dubbed “Weather Info for All”, to radically improve Africa’s weather monitoring network in the face of the growing impact of climate change. >> full text
Arabic Spanish Swahili
No. 854 - INTERNATIONAL HELPDESK TO SUPPORT INTEGRATED FLOOD MANAGEMENT LAUNCHED TODAY
Geneva, 17 June 2009 (WMO) – Floods are largely impacting almost all sectors of societal activities and services. Especially in the developing world, floods can be a strong determinant of overall positive or negative socio-economic development with huge consequences related to poverty and food security, to name a few. Land and water managers, together with emergency planners, policy-makers and the private sector, have to change course from traditional flood management towards a fully integrated approach to managing floods. To that end, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and some 20 multidisciplinary partner institutions, are joining to establish the HelpDesk for Integrated Flood Management (IFM HelpDesk). Launched today during the Second Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, the IFM HelpDesk will provide demand-driven guidance to all countries working on integrated flood management policy, strategy and development. >> full text
No. 853 - GOVERNMENTS ‘MUST INVEST TODAY FOR SAFER TOMORROW’ - PIVOTAL DISASTER RISK REDUCTION CONFERENCE OPENS IN GENEVA
Geneva, 16 June 2009 - Leaders and representatives from some 165 Governments gathering here today for a pivotal disaster risk reduction conference will be urged to ‘invest today for a safer tomorrow’ – or face much harder decisions in the years to come. >> full text
No. 852 - WMO EXECUTIVE COUNCIL PRIORITIZES CLIMATE INFORMATION FOR SOCIETY NEEDS
GENEVA, 12 June 2009 (WMO) — The Executive Council of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), during its annual session held in Geneva, Switzerland, from 3 to 12 June 2009, agreed on ways of further advancing services global observing systems, research and forecasts in the fields of weather, climate and water. Underlying its decisions is the need for society to incorporate scientific information into policies to guide actions that are sustainable in the face of the global climate challenge. The provision of such information services by National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) is essential for anticipating and managing climate risks, as well as responding to arising socio-economic pressures. Capacities must be strengthened, especially in the developing countries, to protect people’s lives and livelihoods. >> full text
Arabic Chinese Russian
No. 851 - DR EUGENIA KALNAY WINS 54th IMO PRIZE
Geneva, 11 June 2009 (WMO) – The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is awarding its most prestigious Prize and honouring several distinguished scientists with other awards this week at the annual meeting of the Executive Council. These scientists have made outstanding contributions leveling the field of meteorology, climatology, hydrology and related. >> full text
Arabic Chinese Russian
No. 850 - WMO EXECUTIVE COUNCIL TO ADDRESS CLIMATE, WATER AND WEATHER SERVICES (Geneva, 3-12 June 2009)
Geneva, 3 June 2009 (WMO) – The need for reliable weather, water and climate forecasts, warnings and predictions is rising in the face of changing climate conditions and socio-economic pressures worldwide. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is highlighting these issues this week, as its Executive Council meets at its 61st annual session in Geneva, Switzerland. The WMO Executive Council will address a range of WMO programmes and topics that promise to enhance the capabilities of the National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) of its 188 Members to provide critical weather, water and climate assessments and services. >> full text
Arabic Chinese Russian
No. 849 - FARMERS STRESS OVERRIDING IMPORTANCE OF FREE ACCESS TO ACCURATE WEATHER AND CLIMATE FORECASTS
Geneva/Melbourne, 20 May 2009 (WMO) – An international workshop held this week concluded that notwithstanding the high sensitivity of agriculture to climate, no full advantage was taken for the agricultural sector of the advances made in weather and climate forecasts. This was attributed to a lack of contact between the providers of weather and climate information and farming communities. The workshop adopted a set of recommendations aimed at enhancing interaction between National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) and the farming community. >> full text
No. 848 - ANTICIPATED INCREASE IN NATURAL HAZARDS REQUIRES STRONG COMMITMENT TO EARLY WARNINGS AND RISK MANAGEMENT
Geneva / Manama, 17 May 2009 (WMO) – While the threat from climate-related weather extremes increases, most countries are not adequately equipped to prevent disasters according the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). Speaking at the launch today, 17 May, in Manama, Bahrain, of the UN Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction (GAR/DRR), WMO Secretary-General Michel Jarraud called for strong national and regional commitment to early warnings and climate services as basic tools for reducing disaster risks. >> full text
No. 847 - INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP TO IMPROVE COMMUNICATION OF WEATHER AND CLIMATE PRODUCTS TO FARMERS
Geneva/Melbourne, 18 May 2009 (WMO) – Successful and sustainable farming communities throughout the world have survived and developed by mastering the ability to adapt farming systems to widely varying weather and climatic conditions. These skills and practices must be effectively integrated and applied to make agricultural production more reliable, more efficient and above all more equitable in the world at large. That is the theme of an international workshop being held in Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia, from 18 to 20 May 2009 to improve the long-term sustainability of farming and agriculture through improving practical weather and climate information output for farmers world-wide. >> full text
No. 846 - TOWARDS STRENGTHENED REGIONAL COOPERATION TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS ON FOOD SECURITY IN WEST AFRICA
Geneva, 11 May 2009 (WMO/FAO) – Over 70 experts and decision-makers who met from 27 to 30 April 2009 at an International Workshop in Burkina Faso (see press release no 843) adopted a set of recommendations aimed at minimizing short- and long-term vulnerability of the West African region to climate change. Among the recommendations contained in the “Ouagadougou Workshop Declaration” is the establishment of a “West and Central African Network on Climate Change and Food Security”. >> full text
No. 845 -Boosting knowledge of air quality and climate change through enhanced observations
Geneva, 5 May 2009 (WMO) – Scientists need new improved observational and analysis techniques to address climate-relevant questions of the twenty-first century. From reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating climate change to monitoring stratospheric ozone recovery and forecasting air quality, these issues require observational systems fully integrated at the regional and national levels. From 5 to 7 May, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is bringing together some 90 experts from 30 countries to discuss how to best address these issues and advance studies of atmospheric composition. >> full text
No. 844 - World's weather broadcasters to address public need for climate outlooks
Geneva, 12 May 2009 (WMO) – The public increasingly needs information beyond existing weather bulletins to plan ahead and make decisions in light of climate change. To address that concern, weather presenters from all regions will meet at the World Climate Broadcasts Forum to be held at World Climate Conference-3 (WCC-3) in Geneva, Switzerland, from 31 August to 4 September 2009. >> full text
Arabic ChineseRussian
No. 843 -Empowering west african farmers with information to cope with climate change
Geneva, 27 April 2009 (WMO/FAO) West African farmers are facing increasing threats from climate change. Changes in the frequency of droughts, heatwaves, floods, storms, frost-freezes and locusts require that the agricultural sector take adaptation measures to cope with the impacts of climate change. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the Food Agriculture Organization (FAO), the State Agency for Meteorology of Spain (AEMET) and partners are this week bringing together 70 experts and key decision-makers in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, to discuss and recommend collaborative mitigation and adaptation options for the agriculture, livestock, forestry and fisheries sectors in West Africa. >> full text
No. 842 - International Polar Year focusing on polar oceans
Geneva, 18 March 2009 (WMO/ICSU) Human impact on the oceans has become a topic of global concern: the eighth ‘International Polar Day’ of the International Polar Year 2007-8 (IPY) draws international attention to Polar Oceans. In these ice-covered oceans one finds remarkable organisms adapted to cold and dark, the rich ice-adapted ecosystems that support penguins and polar bears, and fundamental cooling and freezing processes that control planet-wide ocean circulations and global climate. During the last two weeks of March, 2009, polar oceanographers around the world will join students and teachers in local and broadcast events in Brazil, Canada, Italy, France, Germany, Malaysia, Mexico, United Kingdom, and USA. >> full text
No. 841 -WORLD METEOROLOGICAL DAY 2009 - Monitoring the atmosphere for protecting our health
GENEVA/WORLDWIDE, 23 March 2009 (WMO) – On the occasion of World Meteorological Day 2009 taking place worldwide on 23 March, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is calling attention to the interaction between weather patterns, climate and air quality. Gases and particles emitted to the atmosphere affect people’s health, as well as weather and climate. >> full text
Arabic Spanish Russian Chinese
No. 840 -No large La Niña or El Niño event expected in first half of 2009
Geneva, 17 February 2009 (WMO) – Although sea-surface temperatures in the Pacific cooled in December indicating La Niña-like conditions, the latter are already weakening and meteorologists do not expect a prolonged basin-wide La Niña event. Forecasts suggest that the La Niña-like conditions will most likely dissipate over the next couple of months returning the tropical Pacific to neutral conditions by March-May 2009. Some regions, however, may continue experiencing significant changes in their climate patterns over the coming months due to the recent La Niña-like conditions. >> full text
Arabic Spanish Russian Chinese
No. 839 -
Polar research reveals new evidence of global environmental change
Geneva, 25 February 2009 (WMO/ICSU) – Multidisciplinary research from the International Polar Year (IPY) 2007-2008 provides new evidence of the widespread effects of global warming in the polar regions. Snow and ice are declining in both polar regions, affecting human livelihoods as well as local plant and animal life in the Arctic, as well as global ocean and atmospheric circulation and sea level. These are but a few findings reported in “State of Polar Research”, released today by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the International Council for Science (ICSU). In addition to lending insight into climate change, IPY has aided our understanding of pollutant transport, species’ evolution, and storm formation, among many other areas. >> full text
Arabic Chinese Russian Spanish
"The state of polar research" report is available in:
English French Russian Spanish
No. 837 - Experts recommend ways of coping with increasing droughts
Geneva/Beijing, 19 February 2009 (WMO) – International experts gathered in Beijing (China), from 16 to 17 February 2009 to review the increasing frequency and severity of droughts and extreme temperature events around the world. More than 40 scientists from climate and agricultural research institutes, universities and environmental monitoring organizations participated in the International Workshop on Drought and Extreme Temperatures organized jointly by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the China Meteorological Administration (CMA). >> full text
Arabic Spanish Russian Chinese
No. 836 - Bangladesh to strengthen weather and climate services for the agricultural community
Geneva / Dhaka, 17 December 2008 (WMO) – The “Bangladesh Meteorological Department will upgrade and strengthen its network of agrometeorological observatories, so that it can provide more accurate and timely forecasts in order to increase agricultural production, reduces losses and decrease costs and thus help us in formulating sustainable development strategies for the future” said Mr Md. Sirajul Islam, Secretary in the President’s Office of the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh today while opening a national seminar on agrometeorology. >> full text
No. 835 - 2008 Among the ten warmest years; marked by weather extremes and second-lowest level of arctic ice cover
Geneva, 16 December 2008 (WMO) – The year 2008 is likely to rank as the 10th warmest year on record since the beginning of the instrumental climate records in 1850, according to data sources compiled by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The global combined sea-surface and land-surface air temperature for 2008 is currently estimated at 0.31°C/0.56°F above the 1961-1990 annual average of 14.00°C/57.2°F. The global average temperature in 2008 was slightly lower than that for the previous years of the 21st century due in particular, to the moderate to strong La Niña that developed in the latter half of 2007. >> full text
Arabic Russian Chinese
No. 834 -Towards a Global Framework for using climate information for planning ahead
POZNAN / GENEVA, 10 DECEMBER 2008 (WMO) - Climate information saves lives and sustains economic growth throughout the world. It provides the necessary scientific foundation for making decisions about food and water management, public health issues, disaster risk reduction and economic planning. That is the message of World Meteorological Organization Secretary-General, Mr Michel Jarraud, to the UN Climate Change Conference, which is being held in Poznan, Poland, this week. Mr Jarraud stresses the need for greater attention to be given to adaptation strategies as the necessary complement to any mitigation measures. >> full text
Arabic Russian Chinese
No. 833 -WMO Greenhous Gas Bulletin 2007: Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels reach new highs
GENEVA, 25 NOVEMBER 2008 (WMO) – Levels of climate-warming greenhouse gases continue to increase in the atmosphere. In 2007, global concentrations of carbon dioxide again reached the highest levels ever recorded. These latest numbers, published today in the World Meteorological Organization’s (WMO) 2007 Greenhouse Gas Bulletin, continue the trend of rising emissions of greenhouse gases since the Industrial Revolution. >> full text
Chinese
No. 832 - Experts tackle climate change challenges to agriculture, forestry and fisheries
Geneva, 18 November 2008
(WMO/USDA/SECC) - As our world population grows and the global climate changes, local food supplies are facing more risks. The WMO/UNEP Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warns of increases in the frequency and intensity of floods, droughts, heatwaves and other natural hazards that directly impact agriculture and fisheries. Higher global temperatures will also put crops and fish stocks at increased risk of disease and pests. These same climate pressures also threaten the health and viability of forests and other vulnerable ecosystems and land resources. >> full text
No. 831 - Using modern aircraft to collect valuable meteorological data
Geneva, 17 November 2008 (WMO) – The next airplane you fly on could be one of 3,000 around that world that stream critical weather and climate information to users on the ground. This large fleet of aircraft participates in the Aircraft Meteorological Data Relay (AMDAR), an international programme that coordinates the collection of meteorological and environmental data worldwide. The data collected supports weather forecasting, climate predictions, disaster early warning systems and more. >> full text
No. 830 - European countries seek to reduce disasters through closer interaction between hydrometeorological services and disaster risk management
Geneva/Chisinau, 8 October 2008 – WMO: European countries will meet for the first time at the regional level, on 9-10 October 2008, in Chisinau (Republic of Moldova), to discuss practical ways to reduce the impacts of natural hazards through strengthened collaboration among National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHS) and disaster risk management institutions. The objective is to foster specific ways of building stronger and sustainable scientific and technical capacities for disaster risk reduction in the region.>> full text
Russian
No. 829 - The ozone hole of 2008 is larger than in 2007
Geneva, 16 September 2008 (WMO) - “After decades of chemical attack, it may take another 50 years or so for the ozone layer to recover fully. As the Montreal Protocol has taught us, when we degrade our environment too far, nursing it back to health tends to be a long journey, not a quick fix”, said Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations, on the occasion of the International Day for the Preservation of Ozone Layer today. According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the 2008 Antarctic ozone hole will be larger than the one of 2007. The observed changes in the stratosphere could delay the expected recovery of the ozone layer. It is therefore vital that all Member States with stratospheric measurement programmes continue to support and enhance these measurements. >> full text
No. 828 - Major steps taken for coping with climate change and enhancing food security in South Asia
Geneva/Bangkok/Dhaka, 1 September 2008 (WMO/FAO/UNESCAP) – Recommendations contained in a Declaration adopted by an International Symposium on Climate Change and Food Security in South Asia organized by the World Meteorological Organization, jointly with other UN partners, and hosted by Bangladesh from 25 to 30 August 2008 in Dhaka, aim at minimizing short-and long-term vulnerability of South Asia to climate change and at advancing food security in the region. The recommendations are the outcome of discussions among more than 250 experts and policy makers from 17 countries, on a Regional Agriculture Mitigation and Adaptation Framework for Climate Change for South Asia. They benefited from the participation in the workshop of the President of Bangladesh and the President of Iceland, who addressed the opening (25 August) and the closing session (30 August), respectively. >> full text
No. 827 - Mainstreaming climate prediction into water management is crucial to reduce poverty
Geneva/Montpellier (WMO) – 2 September 2008: Key sectors such as agriculture, energy, tourism and health will be among those most affected by the impact of climate change on water resources, for example, reduced water availability, a deterioration in water quality, increased runoff and an increase in the salinization of groundwater as a result of sea-level rise. “Mainstreaming climate change in decision-making processes will therefore be central to all development and poverty alleviation efforts”, emphasized the Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Mr Michel Jarraud, today when he addressed the thirteenth World Water Congress, being held from 1 to 4 September in Montpellier (France). >> full text
Arabic RussianSpanish
No. 826 - Major step forward in detecting nuclear explosions
CTBTO-WMO cooperation enhances nuclear test-ban verification
Geneva/Vienna 1 September 2008 - The ability to detect the location of possible nuclear explosions will be significantly enhanced following the entry into operation today (1September 2008) of a system for cooperation between the Secretariats of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). >> full text
ArabicRussian Spanish
No. 825 - From Observing to Predicting our Climate
IPCC originated from the first World Climate Conference; the third Conference in 2009 will be another milestone. >> full text
Arabe Russian Spanish
Media advisory - IPCC 20th anniversary
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) celebrates its 20th anniversary in Geneva on Sunday 31st August before convening its 29th plenary meeting.
French Programme
No. 824 - President of Bangladesh calls for collective efforts
to ensure food security
Geneva/Bangkok/Dhaka, 25 August 2008 (WMO/FAO/UNESCAP) – “We have to ensure the food security for the global people particularly the people of developing countries with collective efforts”, H.E. Iajuddin Ahmed, President of the People's Republic of Bangladesh stated, while opening an International Workshop on Climate Change and Food Security in South Asia. The President, who is an eminent soil scientist, added: “We need to protect this planet from the devastation of climate change. I call upon world community to work unitedly to face the challenges of global warming and make the planet a place of better living.” >> full text
No. 823 - WMO Members cooperate for Beijing 2008 weather forecasts
Geneva/Beijing (WMO), 5 August 2008 - Weather predictions and characterization of associated risk are critical to the Ceremonies and Games during the Beijing Olympics, beginning on August 8. For the third consecutive Games, the World Meteorological Organization is coordinating efforts by the host country and other Members of the Organization to provide timely and accurate weather information. >> full text
Russian Spanish
No. 822 -
Experts to tackle threat of forest fires under changing climate
Geneva/Edmonton, 14 July 2008 (WMO) – An international workshop is being held from 14 to 16 July 2008 in Edmonton (Canada) with the aim of improving operational weather systems for fire danger rating that should help tackle the growing threat of forest fires worldwide. >> full text
Russian Spanish
No. 821 - WMO Executive Council addresses vital societal needs —
New action targets climate adaptation through enhanced predictions
Geneva, 30 June 2008 (WMO) — The Executive Council of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), during its annual session held in Geneva from 18 to 27 June, agreed on ways of further advancing global observing systems and research on weather, climate, water and environmental issues. A major thrust of the decisions of the Council were on information, research and services for adaptation to climate variability and change. An important requirement is to strengthen the National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHS) and their partnerships with other organizations, especially in the least developed countries. >> full text
Russian Spanish
No. 820 -
Dr QIN Dahe wins 53rd IMO Prize
GENEVA, 26 June 2008 (WMO) – The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) honours scientists for their accomplishments in meteorology and related sciences. Dr QIN Dahe from China won the prestigious IMO Prize this year for his scientific research and for promoting international cooperation in meteorology. >> full text
Russian Spanish
No. 819 - New international data centre for lakes to improve water management
Geneva, 25 June 2008 (WMO) – A long-standing gap in water data collection has been filled by the establishment of an International Data Centre for the Hydrology of Lakes and Reservoirs (HYDROLARE), following an Agreement between the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the Federal Service of Russia for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring (ROSHYDROMET). >> full text
Spanish
No. 818 - Upgrading weather services is a key priority for food security
Geneva, 24 June 2008 (WMO) – Restoring, improving and sustaining authoritative observations of weather, climate and water in the developing world is a key priority for food security, according to Mr Michel Jarraud, Secretary-General of the World Meteorological organization (WMO). That required upgrading and maintaining the observational infrastructure of the National Meteorological Services, especially in the Least Developed Countries. >> full text
Russian Spanish
WMO El Niño/La Niña Update
Embargoed until 24 June 2008 1700 GMT
Current Situation and Outlook
La Niña conditions prevailed through May 2008, but the event gradually weakened from its peak strength in February. The recent weeks have seen a more rapid decay, indicating a possible conclusion to the event. Even if some aspects of La Niña continue over the next few weeks, near neutral conditions are considered the most likely outcome for the middle part of the year and shortly thereafter. Rapid development of El Niño or re-development of La Niña is not considered likely for the middle part of the year. However, model forecasts and expert interpretation suggest that the pathway of the system is loosely constrained at this time, and there is need for careful monitoring over the coming weeks. For the second half of the year, the chance of an El Niño developing is small, but it cannot be ruled out. In such circumstances, near-neutral conditions should be considered the most likely outcome for the second half of 2008. >> full text
No. 817 - WMO Executive Council begins annual session
Geneva, 18 JUNE 2008 (WMO) - The Executive Council of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) today began its 60th annual session in Geneva. Major items on its agenda aim at enhancing the contribution of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services, through cooperation under the aegis of WMO, in addressing pressing global concerns, namely disaster risk reduction, climate adaptation, food security and poverty alleviation. >> full text
Russian Spanish
No. 816 - New generation of Chinese meteorological satellite now in orbit
Geneva, 30 May 2008 (WMO) – China has successfully launched the first of its new generation of polar-orbiting meteorological satellites, Fengyun-3A.
Fengyun-3A was launched on 27 May 2008 from Taiyuan satellite launch centre in Shanxi Province of China. The payload of this new generation spacecraft is comprised of a complex suite of instruments including visible and infrared imagers, infrared and microwave sounders, a microwave imager, an ultra-violet spectroradiometer and a space environment monitor. These instruments are designed to provide three-dimensional quantitative data in support of numerical weather prediction and environment monitoring. >>full text
Russian
No. 815 - Urgent support needed for storm-surge warning and response mechanisms
Geneva, 21 May 2008 (WMO) – At a press conference held jointly today with the UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (UNESCO/IOC), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) stresses the urgent need for improving coordinated storm-surge advisory systems in the Gulf of Bengal and other parts of the world that at are risk of tropical cyclones, Such systems should be accompanied by end-to-end response mechanisms for the protection of the people at grassroot level. >> full text
WMO and IOC/UNESCO Press Conference
Russian Spanish
No. 814 - WMO network provided timely cyclone alerts to Myanmar, needs resources for improving storm surge warnings
Geneva, 7 May 2008 (WMO) – The Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH) of Myanmar started to issue forecasts on cyclone Nargis as of 27 April, several days ahead of landfall, on the basis of information provided through the WMO network, according to information the Organization received today from the Permanent Representative of Myanmar with WMO, Mr Tun Lwin, Director-General of DMH. >>full text
Russian Spanish
No. 813 - IPCC's work vital to world peace, reinforces need to improve weather and climate observations
Budapest/Geneva, 9 April 2008 (WMO) – The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s work is vital to world peace and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is committed to continue supporting its activities, WMO Deputy Secretary-General Prof. Hong Yan said today. >>full text
Spanish
No. 812 - African Meteorological and Hydrological Services should be recognized as development partners
Addis Ababa/Geneva, 2 April 2008 (WMO) – African countries can be better protected against the damaging effects of climate change, variability and extreme weather events if their National Meteorological and Hydrological Services are strengthened, WMO Secretary-General Mr Michel Jarraud said today. >>full text
No. 811 - WMO marks world meteorological day with call to strengthen climate observations
Geneva/worldwide, 23 March 2008 (WMO) – With World Meteorological Day taking place worldwide on 23 March, the World Meteorological Organization is marking the annual event with a global call for increased investment in weather, climate and hydrological observation technologies to help populations and economies adapt to climate change and climate variability and to prepare for extreme weather. >>full text
Spanish - Russian
No. 810 - La Niña conditions strengthen, expected to continue
Geneva, 11 February 2008 (WMO) – The current La Niña event, characterized by a cooling of the sea surface in the central and eastern Equatorial Pacific, has strengthened slightly in recent months and is expected to continue through the first quarter of 2008, with a likelihood of persisting through to the middle of the year. >> full text
No. 809 - World Climate Conference-3 to seek more support for improving climate predictions
Geneva, 6 February 2008 (WMO) – Next year’s landmark WMO World Climate Conference-3 (WCC-3) will urge the international scientific community, including governments, to do more to improve seasonal climate predictions to enable the planet to adapt to the impacts of climate variability and change, saving lives and protecting economies in the process.
>> full text
Information - China Meteorological Administration issues summary on cold weather snap
Beijing/Geneva, 5 February 2008 (WMO) – In response to the extreme cold weather pattern currently affecting China, the China Meteorological Administration has produced the following summary regarding the widespread low temperatures, frozen rain, snow and ice.
>> full text
No. 808 - WMO launches drive to mobilize global efforts in climate prediction
Geneva, 1 February 2008 (WMO) - The World Meteorological Organization is kick-starting a major global effort to better predict changes to the Earth’s climate and deal with extreme weather and climate events, such as flooding, drought and desertification.
>> full text
No. 807 - WMO strengthens satellite strategy to monitor climate change
New Orleans/Geneva, 17 January 2008 (WMO) – Hi-tech efforts to better understand global warming have been strengthened after the world’s space and meteorological agencies gave their support to a World Meteorological Organization (WMO) strategy for the enhanced use of satellites to monitor climate change and weather. >> full text
No. 806 - WMO develops new global satellite strategy to monitor climate change
Geneva, 11 January 2008 (WMO) – The World Meteorological Organization is developing a new vision for using dozens of satellites to monitor climate change and weather. This strategy for an updated space-based Global Observing System will be discussed at a high-level WMO meeting, attended by the world’s space agencies, in New Orleans, USA, on 15–16 January. >> full text
No. 805 - 1998-2007 Is Warmest Decade on Record
Bali/Geneva, 13 December 2007 (WMO) – The decade of 1998-2007 is the warmest on record, according to data sources obtained by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The global mean surface temperature for 2007 is currently estimated at 0.41°C/0.74°F above the 1961-1990 annual average of 14.00°C/57.20°F. >> full text Chinese Spanish Arabic
No. 804 - WMO Secretary-General says IPCC Nobel Award reinforces need to integrate science in climate change decision-making
Oslo, Norway, 10 December 2007 (WMO) – World Meteorological Organization Secretary-General, Mr Michel Jarraud, welcomed Monday’s presentation of the Nobel Peace Prize to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and Mr Al Gore, saying the honour reinforces the need to integrate science and its findings on climate change into the political decision-making process with respect to global warming. >> full text
No. 803 - Increased investment is needed in climate predictions, monitoring and scientific research for adaptation to climate change
Bali, Indonesia, 4 December 2007 (WMO) - Climate change is already having negative impact on our planet, a reality that requires more investment in climate predictions, monitoring and scientific research for developing adaptation measures to respond to the natural and economic risks associated with climate change, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). >> full text Arabic French Russian
Geneva, 23 November 2007 (WMO) – In 2006, globally averaged concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere reached their highest levels ever recorded. The World Meteorological Organization’s (WMO) 2006 Greenhouse Gas Bulletin, published today, says it reached 381.2 parts per million (ppm), up 0.53 per cent from 379.2 ppm in 2005. >> full text
Lisbon/Geneva 7 November 2007 (WMO) – The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) says a planned alliance between the European Union and developing countries to counter the impacts of climate change can help millions of the world’s poorest respond to water shortages, migration and sustain climate-friendly economic development. >> full text
Geneva, 2 November 2007 (WMO) – Storms generated in arid parts of the world can cause thousands of tonnes of airborne sand and dust to deposit in cities and cross continents, exposing populations to airborne diseases, affecting air and ground transport and damaging crops. Now, the World Meteorological Organization and partners are implementing an early warning system to help countries minimize such risks. >> full text
Geneva, 31 October 2007 (WMO) – A La Niña event is currently underway across the central and eastern Equatorial Pacific, with sea surface temperatures up to 1.5 degrees Celsius colder than normal, according to the World Meteorological Organization’s (WMO) latest El Niño/La Niña Update. The La Niña conditions are expected to continue through the first quarter of 2008. >> full text
Spanish
Geneva/Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain, 19 October 2007 (WMO) – The World Meteorological Organization, Spain and other partners committed themselves today to help West African countries protect their people against natural disasters and extreme weather and climate events by strengthening early warning and monitoring systems.>> full text
Geneva, 18 October 2007 (WMO) - The ozone hole over the Antarctic in 2007 is relatively small, but its size is not a sign of recovery but instead related to the mild temperatures in the Antarctic stratosphere during the latest winter. >> full text
Geneva, 16 September 2007 (WMO) - According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the ozone layer protecting life on Earth from the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation continues to be depleted with the most pronounced depletion occurring in the Antarctic region. "Over the next ten to twenty years, high quality global observations of ozone and ozone-depleting substances will be particularly critical in verifying the effectiveness of the actions taken under the Vienna Convention in 1985, the Montreal Protocol of 1987 and its amendments and adjustments", says Mr Michel Jarraud, the Secretary-General of WMO. >> full text
Arabic - Chinese - English - French - Russian - Spanish
MADRID/Geneva, 13 September 2007 (WMO) - One of the most important issues facing the world today is the need to ensure food security through sustainable management of water and soil resources, Mr M. Jarraud, Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) stressed today in an address to the High-level Segment of the eighth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 8) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). The Conference, which is being held in Madrid from 3 to 14 September 2007, adopted a new format for its future work on science and technology, inspired by an international workshop organized by WMO. >> full text
Spanish
Geneva/Helsinki, 3 September 2007 (WMO) - To attenuate the negative impacts of climate change, it is essential that climate change and variability issues be introduced within the water resources national development agenda. This statement was made today Mr M. Jarraud, Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), at the opening ceremony of the Third International Conference on Climate and Water, which is being held in Helsinki, Finland, from 3 to 6 September 2007. >> full text
Geneva, 31 August 2007 (WMO) - Carbon-dioxide-induced climate change and desertification are inextricably linked because of feedbacks between land degradation and precipitation. Innovative and adaptive land-management responses to inherent climatic variability and natural hazards (such as droughts, floods, landslides, sand- and duststorms and wildland fires) must be identified and implemented, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) stresses. >> full text
Spanish
Providing insight to current global trends in climate change and desertification, a leading expert at the World Meteorological Organization warned of increasing temperatures and rainfall variability over the next several decades.
Speaking to journalists at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Dr M.V.K. Sivakumar, Chief of the Agricultural Meteorology Division at WMO, said there was a clear linkage between the rise in global temperatures, the emission of greenhouse gases and desertification, adding that: “We are seeing an enormous amount of warming, and the projections are that the warming is likely to be around a 0.2% increase per decade over the next several decades”. >> full text
Geneva, 7 August 2007 (WMO) - Weather and climate are marked by record extremes in many regions across the world since January 2007. In January and April 2007 it is likely that global land surface temperatures ranked warmest since records began in 1880, 1.89°C warmer than average for January and 1.37°C warmer than average for April. Several regions have experienced extremely heavy precipitation, leading to severe floods. The Fourth Assessment Report of the WMO/UNEP Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) notes an increasing trend in extreme events observed during the last 50 years. IPCC further projects it to be very likely that hot extremes, heat waves and heavy precipitation events will continue to become more frequent. >> full text
Current Situation and Outlook
A La Niña event could, more likely than not, develop in the second half of 2007. The last WMO El Niño/La Niña Update in March 2007 also noted an enhanced likelihood of La Niña development, and conditions were moving quite rapidly in that direction until a reversal occurred during May and early June. There remains considerable uncertainty over the timing and magnitude of further cooling in the central and eastern Equatorial Pacific, and indeed there is a possibility that basin-wide conditions, despite some cooling, will on balance remain neutral through the remainder of 2007. Development of El Niño during the period is considered very unlikely.>> full text French version Spanish version
Geneva, 11 June 2007 (WMO) – The Executive Council of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has selected the winners of the three WMO prizes awarded for exceptional research or lifetime achievements in meteorological and related sciences.
>> full text
Geneva, 5 June 2007 (WMO) – The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has called for Group of Eight (G8) leaders to support “Climate for Development in Africa”. >> full text
Geneva, 1 June, 2007 (WMO) – The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is offering immediate meteoological assistance to the Republic of Maldives after a series of large swell waves (estimated at 3-4.5 metres) swamped some 68 islands in 16 atolls earlier this month causing serious flooding and extensive damage.>> full text
Geneva, 25 May 2007 (WMO) – Following three weeks of intense discussions chaired by Dr Alexander I. Bedritsky (Russian Federation), the World Meteorological Congress today unanimously adopted a series of resolutions defining the pathways for the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) for the next four years and into the future. >>full text
Geneva, 23 May 2007 (WMO) – The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is developing a “Disaster Risk Reduction Action Plan” aimed at reducing the loss of lives, livelihoods and property related to meteorological, hydrological and climate-related hazards around the world and paying particular attention to developing countries, Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS). >> full text
Geneva, 23 May 2007 (WMO) – The Fifteenth Congress of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has paved the way for a global approach to address flash floods which, on average, kill more people worldwide than any other natural disaster (over 5 000 deaths every year) and cause millions of dollars in property damage.>> full text
Geneva, 22 May 2007 (WMO) – The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is taking active steps to address weather and climate impacts on world food security by educating farmers – especially in developing and Least Developed Countries – and through promotion of regional Drought Monitoring Centres.>> full text
Geneva, 17 May 2007 (WMO) – The Fifteenth Congress of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has unanimously re-elected Dr Alexander Bedritsky as President of the United Nation’s specialized agency. >> full text
Arabic - Chinese
Geneva, 16 May 2007 (WMO) – The Fifteenth Congress of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) today unanimously re-appointed by acclamation Mr Michel Jarraud as Secretary-General of the WMO for a second term of four years beginning in January 2008. >>full text
Russian - Spanish
Geneva, 11 May 2007 (WMO) – The World Meteorological Organization, under the guidance of its Commission for Climatology and the World Health Organization (WHO), are at an advanced stage of preparing a Guidance on Implementation of Heat Health early Warning Systems (HHWS). >> full text
Geneva, 9 May 2007 (WMO) – Dr Roman Kintanar, former President of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), world-renowned Filipino scientist and founding director of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) passed away Sunday, 6 May due to health complications from cancer. He was 77. >> full text
Geneva, 9 May 2007 (WMO) – Greater use of earth observations to significantly improve weather, climate and water services and help increase protection of life and property around the world has been making steady progress delegates heard at the Fifteenth Congress of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). >> full text
Geneva, 9 May 2007 (WMO) – Stringent administrative and budget reforms to secure the future and prevent financial fraud at the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) received strong support from the Organization’s Members at its quadrennial Congress, which opened in Geneva on 7 May 2007. >>full text
Geneva, 9 May 2007 (WMO) – The work of meteorologists and hydrologists around the world is “a magnificent example of cooperation in a field which goes beyond national boundaries and affects all aspects of human life”, delegates were told at the opening session of the Fifteenth Congress of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). >>full text
Geneva, 4 May 2007 (WMO) – Some 600 Heads of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services, ministers, senior officials and representatives of meteorological organizations will be taking part in the Fifteenth Congress of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) which is held every four years to establish the agency’s future direction. >>full text
Brussels, 6 April 2007 – The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has finalized a new report that assesses the current and future impacts of global warming and explores opportunities for proactively adapting to them. >> full text
Geneva, 23 March 2007 (WMO) – Every year on 23 March, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the National Meteorological and Hydrological Services of its 188 Members commemorate the 1950 entry into force of the convention that created the Organization, which became a Specialized Agency of the United Nations a year later. The theme of World Meteorological Day this year is “Polar Meteorology: Understanding Global Impacts”. >> full text
Geneva/Madrid, 22 March 2007 (WMO) – An International Conference today stressed the benefit of investing in weather, climate and water information and services in the light of their potential impacts on nearly all socio-economic sectors. It unanimously adopted an Action Plan with concrete steps for a major enhancement of such services over the next five years. This requires a strengthening of the capacities of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) and a closer dialogue among providers and users of weather, climate and water information and services.>> full text
Madrid/Geneva, 19 March 2007 (WMO) – With the underlying aim of improving weather, climate and water services around the world, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) today opened its four-day International Conference: “Secure and Sustainable Living: Social and Economic Benefits of Weather, Climate and Water Services” in Madrid, Spain.>> full text
Geneva, 6 March 2007 (WMO) - Professor Godwin Patrick Olu Obasi, Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization from 1 January 1984 to 31 December 2003, passed away on 3 March 2007 in Abuja, Nigeria. >>full text
26 February 2007 – International Polar Year (IPY) 2007-2008 officially gets underway on 1 March, 2007. IPY, which is a programme of the International Council for Science (ICSU) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), will be the largest internationally coordinated scientific research effort in 50 years.>>full text
Paris, 2 February 2007 – The first major global assessment of climate change science in six years has concluded that changes in the atmosphere, the oceans and glaciers and ice caps show unequivocally that the world is warming.>>full text
Paris, 2 February 2007 – The first major global assessment of climate change science in six years has concluded that changes in the atmosphere, the oceans and glaciers and ice caps show unequivocally that the world is warming.>>full text
Geneva/Hong Kong, China, 31 January 2007 (WMO) - The French national meteorological service Méteo France and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in collaboration with the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) have launched a French-language website providing the latest official weather forecasts for many of the world’s cities as issued by their respective National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs).
>>full text
Geneva, 14 December 2006 (WMO) – The global mean surface temperature in 2006 is currently estimated to be + 0.42°C above the 1961-1990 annual average (14°C/57.2°F), according to the records maintained by Members of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The year 2006 is currently estimated to be the sixth warmest year on record. Final figures will not be released until March 2007.>>full text
|
Bookmark 
RSS
Zoom
Share
Recommend
Google map
