The full form of WMO is World Meteorological Organization. The WMO, which consists of 193 states and territories, promotes the open exchange of information, data, and research amongst its members’ respective meteorological and hydrological institutes. The promotion of international collaboration in atmospheric science, hydrology, climatology, and geophysics is under the purview of the United Nations Specialized Department.
The World Meteorological Congress, made up of Member States, governs the WMO, which has its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. Every four years, it establishes policy and objectives. The President, currently the German leader Gerhard Adrian, controls the Executive Council, which is in charge of the Congress.
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Background
- The International Meteorological Body, a non-governmental organisation, founded in 1873 as a forum for exchanging information about climate change, served as the foundation for the WMO.
- The 1947 World Meteorological Convention, which first suggested the World Meteorological Organization, led to suggestions to alter the IMO’s status and role.
- The WMO began operations as an intergovernmental organisation within the UN system the year before the Convention entered into force on March 23, 1950.
Principal duties of WMO
WMO’s work aims to offer the Member States technological and scientific systems for services and information related to weather, climate, and water. Some of the key objectives of the WMO are listed in the list below:
- Improve and promote the development and upkeep of systems for the quick exchange of weather and meteorological data.
- Promoting the standardisation of meteorological and climate observations
- Increase the use of meteorology in areas such as shipping, agriculture, and water management.
- Encourage cooperation between hydrological and meteorological services and hydrological activities.
- Promote research and training initiatives in meteorology and related fields.
- Participate in developing water, weather, and climate policies on a global and national scale.