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WMO Bulletin, Vol. 46, No. 1: January 1997

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WMO Bulletin, Vol. 46, No. 1: January 1997 WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION JR UJLLE1rTIN Volume 46 No. 1 January 1997 THE WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION (WMO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations The purposes of' WMO are: EXECUTIVE COUNCIL President J. W. ZILLMAN (Australia) To facilitate worldwide cooperation in the estab­ First Vice-President C. E. BERRIDGE (British lishment of networks of stations for the making of Caribbean Territories) meteorological observations as well as hydro­ Second Vice-President N. SEN Roy (India) logical and other geophysical observations related Third Vice-President (post vacant) to meteorology, and to promote the establishment and maintenance of centres charged with the prov­ Ex officio members of' the Executive Council ision of meteorological and related services; (presidents of regional associations) To promote the establishment and maintenance of Africa (Region I) systems for the rapid exchange of meteorological K. KONARE (Mali) and related information; Asia (Region II) Z. BATJARGAL (Mongolia) To promote standardization of meteorological and South America (Region III) related observations and to ensure the uniform W. CASTRO WREDE (Paraguay) publication of observations and statistics; North and Central America (Region IV) S. PoLLONAIS (Trinidad and Tobago) (acting) To further the application of meteorology to avia­ South-West Pacific (Region V) tion, shipping, water problems, agriculture and S. KARJOTO (Indonesia) other human activities; Europe (Region VI) To promote activities in operational hydrology P. STEINHAUSER (Austria) and to further close cooperation between Meteoro­ Elected members of the Executive Council logical and Hydrological Services; A. A. AL-GAIN (Saudi Arabia) To encourage research and training in meteor­ Z. ALPERSON (Israel) ology and, as appropriate, in related fields, and to A. ATI-IAYDE (Brazil) assist in coordinating the international aspects of A. I. BEDRITSKY (Russian Federation) such research and training. J.-P. BEYSSON (France) A. B. DroP (Senegal) E. W. FRIDAY (USA) The World Meteorological Congress U. Gii.RTNER (Germany) (acting) is the supreme body of the Organization. It brings J. C. R. HUNT (United Kingdom) together delegates of all Members once every four P. LEYVA-FRANCO (Colombia) years to determine general policies for the fulfilment G. McBEAN (Canada) of the purposes of the Organization. M. S. MHITA (United Republic of Tanzania) E. A. MUKOLWE (Kenya) L. NDORIMANA (Burundi) The Executive Council A. M. NooRIAN (Islamic Republic of Iran) is composed of 36 directors of national Meteoro­ I. 0BRUSNIK (Czech Republic) logical or Hydrometeorological Services serving in an T. ONo (Japan) (acting) individual capacity; it meets at least once a year to G. E. 0RTEGA GrL (Mexico) supervise the programmes approved by Congress. G. K. RAMOTHWA (Botswana) Y. SALAHU (Nigeria) (acting) G. C. SCHULZE (South Africa) The six regional associations R. A. SONZINI (Argentina) are each composed of Members whose task it is to J. ZIELINSKI (Poland) coordinate meteorological and related activities H. ZOHDY (Egypt) (acting) within their respective Regions. Zou JINGMENG (China) The eight technical commissions PRESIDENTS OF TECHNICAL COMMISSIONS are composed of experts designated by Members and Aeronautical Meteorology: C. H. SPRINKLE are responsible for studying meteorological and Agricultural Meteorology: C. J. STIGTER hydrological operational systems, applications and Atmosphedc Sciences: D. J. GAUNTLEIT research. Basic Systems: S. MILDNER Climatology: W.J. MAUNDER Hydrology: K. HOFIUS THE SECRETARIAT OF THE ORGANIZATION IS LOCATED AT Instruments and Methods of Observation: J. KRuus 41 AVENUE GIUSEPPE-MOTTA, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND. Maline Meteorology: R. J. SHEARMAN WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION SECRETARY-GENERAL Vol. 46 No. 1 G. 0. P. OBASI January 1997 DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL M. JARRAUD ASSISTANT SECRETARY-GENERAL A. S. ZAITSEV The official journal of the World Meteorological Organization IB3llJJLJLIE ilJIW 2 In this issue 3 Message from the Secretary-General of WMO Subscription rates: 6 The Bulletin interviews: Richard (Dick) Hallgren Surface mail 15 Climate services for a changing world, by R. E. Basher 1 year: SFR 52 21 Climate Information and Prediction Services-CLIPS, by 2 years: SFR 94 A. Saules1eja and L. E. Olsson 3 years: SFR 124 Climate applications and services Airmail 24 Introduction 1 year: SFR 72 25 Climate services for sustainable development, by L. E. Olsson 2 years: SFR 130 3 years: SFR 172 27 Climate services to the public, by K. O'Lougblin 30 Climate services to the health sector, by G. Jendritzky and Published quarterly (January, April, July, L. Kalkstein October) in English, French, Russian 32 Climate services and food production, by W. Baier and Spanish editions. 37 Climate services and water resources management, by Z. W. Kundzewicz Remittances and all other correspon­ 41 Climate services and urban development, by Y. Boodhoo dence about the WMO Bulletin should be addressed to the Secretary-General. 43 Climate services and energy, by Y. Boodboo 46 Climate services for tourism and recreation, by L. L€Cha and OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN SIGNED ARTICLES OR P. Shackleford IN ADVERTISEMENTS APPEARING IN THE WMO 47 Modernization of the National Meteorological Service of Bulletin ARE THE AUTHOR'S OR ADVERTISER'S Mexico, by G.E. Ottega Gil OPINIONS AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT 53 Low-cost media weather presentation systems, by P. Budgen, THOSE OF WMO. The mention of specific B.W. Bettany, D.J. Griggs and C. Sear companies or products in articles or 57 Erratum advertisements does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by From other joumals WMO in preference to others of a simi­ 58 Rain shadows offer opportunity, by R. S. Schemenauer lar nature which are not mentioned or Anniversary advertised. Extracts from unsigned (or 59 The National Institute of Meteorology of Portugal celebrates initialled) articles in the journal may be its 50th anniversary, by A. Da Costa Malheiro reproduced provided the customary acknowledgement is made. Requests WMO programme news to publish signed articles (in part or in 60 Instruments and methods of observations whole) should be addressed to the Edi­ 61 Tropical Cyclone Programme tor. 63 World Climate Applications and Services Programme 63 World Climate Data and Monitoting Programme World Meteorological Organization 65 Atmospheric Research and Environment Programme Case postale 2300 66 Global Atmosphere Watch CH-1211 Geneva 2 69 Agticultural meteorology Switzerland 70 Aeronautical meteorology 72 Hydrology and water resources Tel.: (+41.22) 730.84.78 75 Education and training Fax: (+41.22) 733.09.82 78 Technical cooperation E-mail: [email protected] 82 In the Regions 84 News and notes 90 News from the Secretariat 94 Obituary 95 Reviews Editor: A. S. ZAITSEV 101 Calendar of coming events 102 Members of the World Meteorological Organization Associate Editor: Judith C. C. ToRRES In t!Mis issure The customary annual message from the Secre­ urban development and energy (both by Yadowsun tary-General which opens this January issue is on a Boodhoo) and, last but not least in our contempo­ subject which concerns all of us on a rapidly rary world, tourism and recreation (Luis Lecha and increasing basis: "Weather and water in cities" is Peter Shackleford). the theme for World Meteorological Day 1997. The next article "Modernization of the National · The message is followed by an interview with Meteorological Service of Mexico" by the Service's Dr Richard (better known as Dick) Hallgren, who Manager, Mr G. E. Ortega Gil, also underlines the remains a major personality on the meteorological importance of NMHSs being in a position to pro­ scene after more than 30 years. A former Director vide an increasingly demanding public in all sec­ of the US National Weather Service, he is currently tors with reliable and timely information. President of the prestigious American Meteorologi­ Public awareness of a national Meteorological cal Society. Service and the effectiveness of the information An article by Reid Basher entitled "Climate imparted increase proportionally as the standard services for a changing world" leads our feature of televised public weather presentations improves. articles on the theme for this issue "Climate appli­ For financial reasons, however, high-quality presen­ cations and services". Planet Earth has undergone tations have hitherto remained the prerogative of fundamental changes and faces enormous chal­ the developed world. Messrs Peter Budgen, Bryn lenges basic to the survival of its inhabitants. The Bettany, David Griggs and Chris Sear describe author considers that this is an exciting opportu­ how this situation may be redressed in developing nity for meteorologists to create and deliver spe­ countries through the use of the good but low-cost cific; effective and reliable climate services to weather presentation systems now available, users so that they may respond to these challenges. together with a willing partnership between devel­ ·· The Climate Information and Prediction Ser­ oped and developing countries to install such sys­ vices (CLIPS) project was conceived precisely in tems and to train technical and media personnel in ·recognition of the fact that increasingly accurate their operation. global climate information and predictions would A new section starting in this issue is "From improve economic and social decision-making in other journals", in which interesting and relevant support of sustainable development. Andrej articles are reproduced
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