WEATHER CLIMATE WATER

2017 Annual Report Services for Decision-Making

WMO-No. 1211 Please visit the WMO YouTube channel to see our videos. Our publications are available at library.wmo.int.

Cover photo credits: Lightning in Split, Croatia, Tin Juginovic Floods in Durazno, Uruguay, Ana Figari Baked earth, Adobe Stock Snow, NOAA/NWS, courtesy of Joe Flood Southern lights in Antarctica (December), Belgrano II Weather Station (Argentina), Lucas Gabriel Merlo

WMO-No. 1211

© World Meteorological Organization, 2018

The right of publication in print, electronic and any other form and in any language is reserved by WMO. Short extracts from WMO publications may be reproduced without authorization, provided that the complete source is clearly indicated. Editorial correspondence and requests to publish, reproduce or translate this publication in part or in whole should be addressed to: Chairperson, Publications Board World Meteorological Organization (WMO) 7 bis, avenue de la Paix Tel.: +41 (0) 22 730 84 03 P.O. Box 2300 Fax: +41 (0) 22 730 81 17 CH-1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland Email: [email protected]

ISBN 978-92-63-11211-8

NOTE

The designations employed in WMO publications and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of WMO concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.

The mention of specific companies or products does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by WMO in preference to others of a similar nature which are not mentioned or advertised.

The findings, interpretations and conclusions expressed in WMO publications with named authors are those of the authors alone and do not necessarily reflect those of WMO or its Members. Please visit the WMO YouTube channel to see our videos. Our publications are available at library.wmo.int. CONTENTS

FOREWORD...... 1

PART I. THE KNOWLEDGE BASE...... 2

Earth system observations ...... 2

The role of science...... 6

PART II. INFORMATION FOR DECISION-MAKING ...... 10

Delivering weather forecasts...... 10

Warnings to protect lives and property...... 11

Ensuring the safety of air traffic...... 14

Services for climate action and resilience...... 15

Services for the Arctic and Antarctic...... 17

Chemical composition of the atmosphere ...... 18

Mitigating drought and desertification ...... 21

PART III. SUPPORTING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT...... 22

Mobilizing resources and fostering partnerships...... 22

How WMO supports Africa...... 23

How WMO supports Asia and the South‑West Pacific ...... 24

How WMO supports the Americas...... 25

How WMO supports Europe...... 26

Education and training ...... 26

PART IV. WMO BUDGET, STAFFING AND STRUCTURE...... 28

WMO reform...... 28

How the reform process works ...... 29

WMO in the News ...... 30

Sidebars

Lightning observations for climate applications...... 3

Understanding clouds...... 7

Observations from aircraft...... 8

Monitoring the ocean...... 9

An enhanced WMO World Weather Information Service...... 11

Towards a Global Multi-hazard Alert System...... 13

Sand and dust storms in 2017 ...... 20

New records reached or announced in 2017...... 29

2017 ANNUAL REPORT – SERVICES FOR DECISION-MAKING | i WMO provides world leadership and expertise in international cooperation, enabling its Members to deliver and use high‑quality, authoritative weather, climate, hydrological and related environmental services, in order to improve the well‑being of societies throughout the world.

Hurricane Irma destruction on Saint Thomas, US Virgin Islands. Photo: @ WMO/Chris B. Pye

This Annual Report does not aim to provide a comprehensive review of all that WMO achieved in the year – such details are available in the official documents posted on the WMO website. Instead, it provides a snapshot of progress on selected activities that have recently made a significant impact on people’s lives and well-being.

ii | 2017 ANNUAL REPORT – SERVICES FOR DECISION-MAKING FOREWORD

In 2017 the world witnessed an array of destructive weather to high-resolution satellite imagery and sophisticated events and record-breaking climate extremes. The years models, emergency managers can now issue accurate 2015, 2016 and 2017 have been confirmed as the three and targeted warnings more than a week in advance. warmest on record: 2016 was the warmest of the three, Communities can use information on long-term trends to whilst 2017 tied with 2015 as the second warmest year on prepare for change and to build resilience. By ensuring record. With three major hurricanes striking Caribbean that service providers consult with users when they countries and the southern United States with record rains develop new services, we are able to generate information and winds, 2017 was the most costly and destructive ever that provides practical, real-life solutions. North Atlantic hurricane season. Major monsoon floods caused havoc in the Indian subcontinent; flooding claimed This Annual Report provides a snapshot of this progress. lives in Bangladesh, China, Peru and Sri Lanka; the long- During the course of this single year, the new WMO lasting drought in East Africa persisted; heatwaves affected HydroHub started to stimulate innovation and community Australia, Europe and the United States; and particularly engagement for making hydrological measurements more dry and hot summers led to raging forest fires in California sustainable. WMO became an official observer with the and Portugal.1 A deadly heatwave in Pakistan produced Arctic Council and launched the Year of Polar Prediction to an apparent temperature record for Asia of 54 °C (to be improve predictions for the Arctic and Antarctic. National confirmed), only 2.5 °C below the world record set in July agencies launched and operationalized sophisticated, 1913 in Death Valley, the planet’s hottest place. next-generation meteorological satellites. The WMO Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) expanded its reporting to cover Clearly, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has reactive gases and airborne dust. We strengthened our never been more relevant. The National Meteorological partnerships with other United Nations organizations. and Hydrological Services (NMHSs), which represent A meteorological forecaster deployed to the United most Member governments at WMO, take the lead in Nations Operations and Crisis Centre broadened the scope monitoring the Earth’s weather, climate and hydrological of situational reports and analysis to help decision-makers systems. Together with other experts and institutions, they strengthen proactive disaster risk reduction and aid relief conduct the scientific research that is rapidly enhancing efforts. The WMO project portfolio of some US$ 96 million our understanding of the Earth system. They then draw assisted countries in every region of the world. on this work to deliver the high-quality weather, climate, hydrological and environmental information and services Looking ahead, the leadership and staff at WMO know that empower decision-makers at all levels of society. that we cannot stand still. We need to continuously adapt to meet the challenges of increased competition, Governments rely on our community’s information and technological advances, environmental degradation, services to protect life and property from a wide array resource constraints and other forces in a rapidly changing of extreme events. They also use them to advance the world. Like the United Nations under the leadership of global agenda, notably the Sustainable Development Secretary-General António Guterres, we are undertaking a Goals, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, reform exercise to ensure that WMO remains fit for purpose and the Paris Agreement on climate change. Decision- and becomes ever more nimble and cost-effective. The makers need to understand how climate variability and results of this process will be presented to the next meeting change are likely to affect key sectors such as agriculture, of the World Meteorological Congress in 2019. water resources, energy production, finance, migration, public health and disaster risk management. Integrating I hope you will find this Annual Report useful. To learn weather and climate information with socioeconomic, more about the work of WMO, please visit our website at geographical and other data makes it possible to create public.wmo.int. Hurricane Irma destruction on Saint Thomas, US Virgin Islands. Photo: @ WMO/Chris B. Pye particularly powerful decision-support tools.

Year after year, WMO and its Members continue to improve the delivery of high-quality predictions and information. Tropical cyclones are a good example: thanks

(P. Taalas) 1. Munich Re has the economic loss from 2017 disasters pegged at US$ 330 billion. Secretary-General

2017 ANNUAL REPORT – SERVICES FOR DECISION-MAKING | 1 PART I THE KNOWLEDGE BASE

Weather, climate, hydrological, marine and environmental observations and research are the foundation for all the work undertaken by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs). They underpin the information, forecasts, products and services that enable civil protection authorities to deliver warnings, health officials to prepare for epidemics, and water managers to ensure water supplies. While individual monitoring systems and research programmes may focus on one particular component of the Earth system, these components are all closely interconnected. WMO advocates for continued investment in observations and research and coordinates programmes and activities at the international level.

Earth system observations NMHSs in their efforts to move away from the use of mercury-based instruments; this aims to support the implementation of the Minamata Convention on Mercury, The WMO Integrated Global Observing System (WIGOS) which entered into force in August. has been conceived as the future hub for global weather, climate and water observations. It will provide an all- The WMO Information System (WIS) provides a major encompassing framework for bringing all WMO global upgrade to the way weather services and their partners observing systems into the twenty-first century. The manage, share and transmit weather, climate, water, present systems – which include the Global Observing marine and related environmental information. WIS System, the Global Atmosphere Watch, the Hydrological exploits the most recent advances in information and Observing System and the observing component of communication technologies and reduces the costs of the Global Cryosphere Watch – are evolving to form an exchanging information. For the first time, and unlike the integrated, comprehensive and coordinated WIGOS. WMO closed and private Global Telecommunication System that is now focused on establishing WIGOS Regional Centres, it builds upon, WIS gives users outside the meteorological and reinforcing quality monitoring. community free access to an expanded range of information. As a result, WMO can now collaborate more WMO is further supporting WIGOS through measures fully with United Nations and other international partners to improve specific types of observation instrument. on implementing common programmes and activities, It is facilitating the standardization of the quality and such as the Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS). exchange of weather radar data, which are particularly useful for nowcasting (forecasts up to two hours), The observing component of the Global Cryosphere Watch disaster risk reduction and other applications. Automatic (GCW) provides authoritative, comprehensive and up-to- weather stations are receiving attention due to their rapid date data and information on the state of snow, glaciers, enhancement through technological innovation and sea ice, permafrost, lake and river ice and ice shelves. the need to develop standards and guidance materials. WMO has established a core observing network called WMO has also prepared a guidance document to assist CryoNet which, as of 2017, includes 77 long-term stations

2 | 2017 ANNUAL REPORT – SERVICES FOR DECISION-MAKING The road to lightning, Batesville, Texas, USA. Photo: @ WMO/Marko Korosec LIGHTNING OBSERVATIONS FOR CLIMATE APPLICATIONS

The Global Climate Observing System, together with the Even more damages are caused by the storms that gener- WMO Commission for Climatology, established a Task ate lightning. Therefore, lightning is observed by weather Team on Lightning Observations for Climate Applications services for early warning purposes, particularly as it is a (known as Task Team for Lightning Observations) proxy for severe storms and heavy precipitation. in October 2017. In recent years, measurements of lightning have become more extensive and new satellite Since lightning is directly linked to convection, which instruments have further enhanced measurement climate change is intensifying, the amount of lightning coverage, however, the monitoring of lightning for is assumed to be increasing. However, lightning in turn climate applications is still limited. To address this, GCOS impacts climate through a positive feedback mechanism. added lightning to the list of Essential Climate Variables The extreme energy of a lightning stroke – reaching (ECVs) in 2016, and in March 2017 tasked the Atmospheric temperatures of up to 30 000 °C – produces nitrogen oxides

Observation Panel for Climate with the creation of the Task (NOX), namely nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2).

Team for Lightning Observations. These NOX are precursors for the formation of tropospheric

ozone (O3), a strong greenhouse gas. Furthermore, the

Lightning is not only a very dramatic weather phenome- NOX produced by lightning are deposited in the upper non but, with an estimate of 6 000 to 24 000 fatalities and troposphere where their lifetime is long, and hence can ten times that number of injuries per year, it is among have a large impact on O3 and the climate radiation balance. the most dangerous as well. Flashes cause substantial loss and damage every year all over the world. The US In order to address this climate perspective of lightning, National Lightning Safety Institute estimates the annual the Task Team for Lightning Observations met in February losses to exceed US$ 6 billion for the United States alone. 2018 in Washington, DC, for the first time.

2017 ANNUAL REPORT – SERVICES FOR DECISION-MAKING | 3 maintained by operational and research organizations balance, and Arctic and Antarctic sea-ice extent. GCOS in 20 countries. Another 43 stations also contribute to is also assessing the observation needs of the Paris the GCW. The network will continue to grow as GCW Agreement on climate change and promoting improved evolves into a WMO operational programme by 2020. climate data management and data rescue. WMO also contributes to the definition, integration and dissemination of standards and best practices. The full value of a comprehensive global observation system can only be realized if existing observation The World Hydrological Cycle Observing System frequencies are protected and the ability to capture (WHYCOS) and the WMO Hydrological Observing System observations continues to expand. For this reason, and (WHOS) also greatly strengthen WIGOS. Demand for fresh recognizing the growing demands on the world’s limited water is growing, leading to rising water stress around the radio frequency spectrum, WMO and the International world. High-quality data on water quantity and quality is Telecommunications Union renewed their joint crucial for hydrological services and evidence-based policy- commitment to the protection and optimal use of the and decision-making. The adoption by the United Nations frequencies essential for remote sensing of the atmosphere General Assembly of a dedicated Sustainable Development and the exchange of information. They also updated the Goal on water (SDG 6 – Ensure access to water and Handbook on Use of Radio Spectrum for Meteorology: sanitation for all) will further increase demand for data and Weather, Water and Climate Monitoring and Prediction, information on the hydrological cycle. which provides comprehensive technical information on the use of radio frequencies by meteorological systems, Recognizing the logistical and financial challenge of including meteorological satellites, radiosondes, weather maintaining and upgrading observation instruments and radars and wind-profiler radars. information systems for hydrology, WMO champions innovative technologies and approaches that can expand Another way to protect observation data is the long- the base of hydrological data. The newly established WMO running campaign of Data Rescue (DARE) projects and HydroHub makes the full WMO portfolio of expertise – from initiatives. Older observations are often marked on paper science to technology to services – easily accessible to that is deteriorating, so these files need to be safely decision-makers from a wide variety of economic sectors. stored as well as digitized. In 2017, for example, the NMHS of Uzbekistan, Uzhydromet, converted more than four Smartphones, for example, have revolutionized the way million pages of hydrometeorological observational data water data can be gathered and the role citizens can play in into digital form under a data restoration project funded contributing to water monitoring at the local level. A simple by the Korea Meteorological Administration. In Botswana, click on a smartphone app allows users to measure water a data rescue team received a ministerial award for levels and discharge in small to medium-sized rivers and to successfully imaging some 40 000 documents and share the data with different communities and, eventually, keying in and quality checking 500 documents; the work the world. These smartphone apps, together with other low- was undertaken with support from the Southern African cost sensors and modern communication technologies, can Science Service Centre for Climate Change and Adaptive gather a potentially huge volume of additional useful data. Land Management (SASSCAL) and the German Weather They have made it possible to engage new actors in water Service (DWD). monitoring, with a shift from a reliance on technical experts to the inclusion of non-experts and local communities. Traditional methods of water data collection, storage and access, of course, remain invaluable and need to be further developed.

Another critical element of WIGOS is the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS). GCOS defines Essential Climate Variables and seeks to guide and coordinate national investments in improved climate observations from space, on land, in the ocean and in the atmosphere. In 2017, GCOS made progress on identifying a core set of headline indicators to be used as a basis for demonstrating to the public the range and speed of climate change. Indicators under consideration include surface temperature, ocean heat, atmospheric carbon

dioxide (CO2), ocean acidification, sea level, glacier mass

4 | 2017 ANNUAL REPORT – SERVICES FOR DECISION-MAKING CENTENNIAL OBSERVING STATIONS – VIDEO

WMO is also promoting long-term weather observations surrounding areas, with the structure of cloud systems and through its Centennial Observing Station initiative, which topographical and bathymetric features clearly visible. encourages governments everywhere to protect and maintain these vital scientific observations. For example, The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) has put the WMO gave special recognition to the meteorological Himawari-9 geostationary meteorological satellite, launched station at Grand Saint Bernard in the Swiss Alps as in November 2016, into in-orbit standby as a backup for a Centennial Observing Station; Grand-St-Bernard Himawari-8. These two new-generation units support JMA’s celebrated 200 years of uninterrupted meteorological commitment to sustaining the provision of continuous observation. satellite observation data for the East Asia and Western Pacific regions until 2029. With the enhanced observation Just as important as protecting old records is the need capability of 16 bands (channels), Himawari-8 is expected to to fully exploit new technologies for gathering current improve the performance of NMHSs in the region for high- observations. A new era in satellite meteorology is quality weather forecasting, climate monitoring, disaster dawning as the latest highly sophisticated satellites from risk reduction and transportation safety. China, Europe, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, the United States of America and other countries become operational. These state-of-the-art satellites offer unprecedented opportunities for improving Earth observations and forecasts.

The European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) has relocated Meteosat-8 to 41.5° East longitude. The satellite now disseminates three-hourly imagery and derived meteorological products via EUMETCast Europe and Africa and via CMACast (through the China Meteorological Administration). The move was part of a collaborative strategy among a group of countries to ensure the continuation of the important Indian Ocean Data Coverage service beyond May 2017, when Meteosat-7 was moved to a different location.

China has released the first high-resolution imagery from FY-4A, the first of its second-generation geostationary meteorological satellites. It included hyperspectral images of the atmosphere, colour cloud pictures and lightning images. The composite colour full-disk visible image (right) was taken at 1.15 pm (Beijing time) on 20 February. The Image from FY-4A meteorological satellite, showing the weather system image captures the weather system over China and over China and surrounding areas

2017 ANNUAL REPORT – SERVICES FOR DECISION-MAKING | 5 The China Meteorological Administration has launched The role of science the FY-3D polar-orbiting meteorological satellite to replace the eight-year-old FY-3B, and the United States National Numerous universities, government agencies and Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has other organizations around the world conduct scientific launched JPSS-1 (NOAA-20 in operations), the first of its research on the Earth system. The WMO World Weather highly advanced polar-orbiting meteorological satellites. Research Programme (WWRP), Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) Programme and World Climate Research NOAA has moved GOES-16, launched in late 2016 as the Programme (WCRP) advocate and facilitate this research. first of NOAA’s next-generation geostationary weather They also play a vital coordinating role by bringing satellites, into its operational orbit at 75.2° West longitude. together experts and institutions to develop common GOES-16 scans the Earth and sky five times faster than research strategies and priorities, compare findings and NOAA’s current geostationary weather satellites, sending discuss future plans. back sharper, more defined images at a resolution that is four times greater, and using three times more spectral In October, WMO organized a Science Summit to outline a channels than the previous model. The higher resolution new framework for collaboration to support the growing will allow forecasters to see more details in storm global requirements for weather, climate, water and systems, especially during periods of rapid strengthening related environmental research. The Summit emphasized or weakening. GOES-16 also carries the first lightning the need to transform knowledge and technologies into detector flown in geostationary orbit. concrete services for society.

Space-based Global Observing System (GOS) 2015 C 2022

6 | 2017 ANNUAL REPORT – SERVICES FOR DECISION-MAKING UNDERSTANDING CLOUDS

In 2017, World Meteorological Day marked the launch of a new edition of the International Cloud Atlas after the most thorough and far-reaching revision in its long and distinguished history. The new WMO Atlas is a treasure trove of hundreds of images of clouds, including a few newly classified cloud types. It also features other meteorological phenomena such as rainbows, halos, snow devils and hailstones. For the first time ever, the Atlas has been produced in a digital format and is accessible via both computers and mobile devices.

The International Cloud Atlas is the single authoritative and most comprehensive reference for identifying clouds. It is an essential training tool for professionals in the meteorological community and those working in aviation and shipping. Its reputation is legendary among cloud enthusiasts.

The International Cloud Atlas has its roots in the late nineteenth century. It was revised on several occasions in the twentieth century, most recently in 1987, as a hard-copy book, before the advent of the Internet.

INTERNATIONAL CLOUDS ATLAS WEB EDITION – VIDEO

2017 ANNUAL REPORT – SERVICES FOR DECISION-MAKING | 7 AIRCRAFT METEOROLOGICAL DATA RELAY AMDAR (AMCOMET VIDEO) – VIDEO

OBSERVATIONS FROM AIRCRAFT

The world’s commercial aircraft fleet is another growing data-sparse areas of the globe that would particularly source of vital weather observations. The WMO Aircraft benefit from improved forecasts. To ensure that this Meteorological Data Relay (AMDAR) Programme, under- potential is realized, WMO and the International Air Transport taken in partnership with 40 participating airlines, has Association (IATA), which has a membership of some grown considerably over the past decade. It now delivers 275 airlines, entered into a working arrangement this year. over 700 000 observations per day of air temperature, wind and, increasingly, water vapour from a fleet of over Meanwhile, new AMDAR programmes and new and 5 000 aircraft. expanded observations in South America and over Africa have recently been developed thanks to cooperation Despite these impressive advances, the Programme still among WMO, NOAA and the Network of European has great potential for further growth, particularly over Meteorological Services (EUMETNET).

This outcome reflects the growing recognition that the To encourage integration, WMO actively promotes value chain connecting research, development and the interdisciplinary research and seeks to bridge the gap delivery of products and services is most effective when between different communities. It facilitates the transfer it is integrated. This requires the different components of of research concepts, tools and techniques to operations the weather enterprise to be interconnected in innovative and services. It is also developing a “seamless data- ways. By co-designing services, scientists, developers processing and forecasting system” that can form the and the providers and users of services can ensure that backbone of future Earth system prediction services. This targeted research contributes greater value. Implementing new system will coordinate and streamline operational the “science for services” concept also requires focusing prediction services across the various WMO global and research on the more relevant regional and urban scales, regional centres. and not just on the global scale. The Quadrennial GAW Symposium recognized the value of this approach to Strengthening the practical impact of research will also address multiple applications and the connections among require infrastructure that supports observations and weather, climate, air quality and health. seamless modelling. The creation of a “federated scientific data hub” will make existing and future research datasets Blurring boundaries between short-term weather more accessible to the wider scientific community and prediction, long-term climate modelling, forecasting of help to foster new research activities. It will also give due atmospheric composition and hydrological science is recognition to all organizations and countries that produce allowing the provision of seamless predictions. Improved and maintain these research datasets. understanding of the holistic Earth system is enabling service providers to deliver predictions on sub-seasonal The ultimate driver of scientific advancement is, of to seasonal time scales and beyond, and to issue forecasts course, skilled and talented people. To nurture scientific for air pollution, early warnings of sand and dust storms, talents, the WMO Strategic Plan 2016–2019 highlights and other new services. capacity development as a priority. The Plan seeks to

8 | 2017 ANNUAL REPORT – SERVICES FOR DECISION-MAKING MONITORING THE OCEAN

The first-ever United Nations summit on oceans took place in June and adopted a “call to action” to reverse the decline of the ocean’s health. Countries and organizations pledged more than 1 300 actions for protecting the ocean. WMO played an active role in the event.

The ocean moves massive amounts of heat and nutrients around the planet and strongly influences the water and carbon cycles; it is a major driver of the world’s weather and climate. Sea-level rise, warming sea-water temperatures and ocean acidification are damaging fisheries, coral reefs and coastal ecosystems. This threatens food security in a world with a growing demand for protein. Another challenge is that chemical pollutants and sand and dust blow off the continents into the Sikuliaq 2017: The Dynamic Arctic. Photo by Kim Kenny atmosphere and travel down rivers to be deposited in the ocean, affecting the chemistry of sea water and causing significant harm to marine ecosystems. and the need to provide weather safety information for shipping. Today, WMO is the authoritative voice of the The ocean has always played an important role in United Nations system on the state and behaviour of the the activities of WMO. Its precursor, the International atmosphere, its interaction with the land and oceans, Meteorological Organization, was established as a result the weather and climate it produces and the resulting of an international maritime conference held in 1853 distribution of water resources.

advance scientific education and training by broadening consensus-building, who would contribute to the scientific partnerships with other organizations and agencies, work of WMO. linking them to WMO research Programmes and facilitating personnel exchanges and graduate-level Finally, WMO seeks to strengthen the links between science fellowships. and services by promoting innovation and mobilizing partnerships. It encourages universities worldwide to Recognizing that women represent half of humanity and embrace the integrated value chain in Earth system often lack adequate access to training and employment sciences. Greater collaboration between NMHSs and opportunities in science, WMO has adopted a Gender Action the private sector would also promote both innovation Plan to promote gender equality and the empowerment and new resources. One area that is particularly well of women. It promotes gender-sensitive weather, climate, positioned to catalyze innovation is the urban environment: hydrological and related environmental services. cities can assure the simultaneous availability of multiple stakeholders, boost human and financial resources, and In 2017, WMO organized a Women’s Leadership in demonstrate the effectiveness of seamless products. Other Hydrology Workshop and a Women’s Marine Leadership fruitful areas for early innovation include high-impact Workshop. They focused on building a cohort of female weather events, air quality and health impacts, water- leaders skilled in communication, negotiation and resource management, and renewable energy.

2017 ANNUAL REPORT – SERVICES FOR DECISION-MAKING | 9 PART II INFORMATION FOR DECISION-MAKING

Drawing on the observations and research described above, NMHSs, private companies and other organizations deliver a wide range of products and services that provide weather, climate, hydrological, marine and environmental information for decision-making. These services help countries and communities to anticipate and to defend themselves against hazards such as storms, floods, droughts and extreme temperatures. They also enable governments and economic decision-makers to exploit new opportunities, leading to improved food security, better public health, sustainable resource management and other benefits. This section describes a selection of key services being delivered today by NMHSs and others.

Delivering weather forecasts that an institution must meet to be designated and to retain that designation, thus ensuring high standards. An expanding network of highly qualified centres will further Weather forecasting is the most familiar service delivered accelerate improvements in forecasts, their delivery to by NMHSs, and it underpins many of the more specialized end users, and the trend toward seamless weather and services described below. Forecasting continues to climate forecasting. steadily improve due to enhanced observations, advances in science and to supercomputer resources; today’s In 2017, a dozen national and regional institutions were five-day forecast is as reliable as the two-day forecast designated for the first time as specialized centres. Of of 25 years ago. Official national forecasts from around these, five were recognized for their global forecasting the world can be found on the WMO World Weather capabilities and designated as World Meteorological Information Service (WWIS) (see sidebar). Centres (WMCs). They are the European Centre for Medium-range Weather Forecasting (ECMWF) in Reading WMO assists NMHSs in providing high-quality weather (United Kingdom), the Canadian Meteorological Centre of forecasts through its Global Data-processing and Environment and Climate Change Canada in Montreal, the Forecasting System (GDPFS). The GDPFS consists of eight Met Office Centre in Exeter (United Kingdom), the Japan World Meteorological Centres, 32 Regional Specialized Meteorological Agency Centre in Tokyo and the China Meteorological Centres, 13 Global Producing Centres for Meteorological Agency Centre in Beijing. They join the Long-range Forecasts, nine Regional Climate Centres and three original World Centres of Washington, Moscow and two Regional Climate Networks. These various centres, Melbourne. All of these WMCs provide WMO Members which are typically hosted and operated by NMHSs, freely with a range of forecast products based on global models share their advanced expertise and prediction products that produce deterministic, ensemble and long-range with all National Weather Services in their respective forecasts. They also provide relevant documentation and regions and beyond. verification to demonstrate the quality of their forecasts. In this way, they assist all other NMHSs in their official By promoting capacity-building and knowledge sharing duties at the national level. among all of its Members, WMO has helped many more NMHSs and related institutions to gain the necessary A critical aspect of weather forecasting is the forecasting capacity to become eligible for designation as WMO of severe weather events that can threaten lives and specialized centres. It has also updated the requirements damage property. The WMO Severe Weather Forecasting

10 | 2017 ANNUAL REPORT – SERVICES FOR DECISION-MAKING AN ENHANCED WMO WORLD WEATHER INFORMATION SERVICE

In 2005, the World Weather Information Service (WWIS) became the first website to feature NMHS forecasts for cities around the world. Today, some 135 WMO Members provide official weather information through WWIS, covering over 2 100 cities. The Service is available in 11 languages, namely Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish. With the launch of the MyWorldWeather mobile app on iPhone and Android platforms, WWIS started serving smartphone users in 2011 and 2013, respectively.

The WWIS website was fully upgraded in 2017 to improve the user experience. It now boasts more content, including current weather, the times of sunrise and sunset for many cities, and global satellite imagery. Thanks to its new user interface and more responsive web design, WWIS offers a much better search and browsing experience. Updated versions of the MyWorldWeather mobile application featuring the new WWIS website can be downloaded for both the iPhone and Android platforms.

The Hong Kong Observatory developed and maintains the website on behalf of WMO. Members of the public are encouraged to use the website or app to obtain official weather information when planning travel abroad.

Demonstration Project (SWFDP) is dedicated to improving 2. Regional Specialized Meteorological Centres interpret forecasts of hazardous weather in support of disaster risk this information and prepare daily guidance products reduction. The project started in 2006 with five countries for the next one to five days for distribution to National in Southern Africa. Over time, it grew to serve more than Meteorological Centres; 50 countries around the globe, covering Southern and Eastern Africa, the South Pacific, the Bay of Bengal, and 3. National Meteorological Centres issue alerts, advisories South-East and Central Asia. and severe weather warnings; liaise with disaster management and other economic sectors; and provide In 2017, WMO took action to extend the SWFDP to the feedback to the SWFDP project managers. Eastern Caribbean. An expert group developed an implementation plan to improve the lead-time and reliability of forecasts and warnings for high-impact Warnings to protect lives and property events such as heavy rain, strong winds and high waves in order to protect lives and property while supporting vital sectors such as fishing and transportation. The SWFDP National Meteorological and Hydrological Services is also being extended to West Africa. Representatives of contribute to human well-being by providing authorities NMHSs from nine countries in West Africa developed a and the general public with early and reliable warnings draft implementation plan, thanks to seed funding from about natural hazards such as storms, heavy precipitation, the Korean Meteorological Administration (KMA). floods, droughts, heatwaves and cold waves. Because these events often spill across borders, regional The SWFDP uses a cascading forecasting process, going cooperation and harmonized warnings can ensure a more from global to regional to national level: robust response (see the sidebar Towards a Global Multi- hazard Alert System). 1. World Meteorological Centres provide available nume­ rical weather prediction and ensemble prediction Thanks to improved forecasting and preparedness, system products, including in the form of probabilities deaths and injuries caused by extreme events continue for a specific time frame; to decline. Economic losses, however, have increased

2017 ANNUAL REPORT – SERVICES FOR DECISION-MAKING | 11 Integrated Flood

Reduce flood hazard Restore wetlands Risk Management Build green infrastructure

Protect against floods Build embankments and flood barriers

Regulate land use ! Put setback lines, building restrictions and flood proofing in place

Raise awareness and RISK REDUCTION preparedness Early warning systems Evacuation plans Flood hazard maps Mitigate residual risk Emergency response Insurance/Relief funds Recovery plans

SOURCE PATHWAY RECEPTOR

ASSOCIATED PROGRAMME ON FLOOD MANAGEMENT www. oodmanagement.info/guidance-document

50-fold since the 1950s due to expanding populations, Flash floods pose particular challenges. Because they settlements and infrastructure, including in coastal and occur quickly and briefly over a small area, they are harder other high-risk areas. The number of disasters is highest in to forecast than larger-scale floods. Many countries lack a Asia, while economic losses are highest in North America. formal process for delivering flash-flood warnings. WMO Institutional capacity for coping with disasters is lowest in is therefore working through the Flash Flood Guidance Africa. Typically, the relative economic impacts are largest System (FFGS) to strengthen the capabilities of NMHSs in less developed countries. For example, The World Bank to issue timely and accurate flash-flood warnings and to estimates Dominica’s total damages and losses from integrate them into their day-to-day operational activities. Hurricane Maria at US$ 1.3 billion or 224% of its Gross It also seeks to foster coordination between NMHSs and Domestic Product (GDP). disaster management authorities.

Of all natural disasters, floods are the most common and The Flash Flood Guidance System is supported by the they have the greatest impact on society. Official statistics United States. As of 2017, six regional FFGSs are fully show a gradual decrease in the number of fatalities operational (Black Sea and Middle East, Central America, thanks to better early warnings, but flood damage Central Asia Region, Mekong River Commission, Southern appears to be increasing because of economic growth Africa Region and South-East Europe) and four more are and insufficient prevention measures and flood-sensitive under development (Haiti and Dominican Republic, South land-use planning. The Integrated Flood Management Asia, South-East Asia and Southeastern Asia-Oceania). In (IFM) approach advocated by WMO aims to maximize the addition, two FFGSs are currently being designed: one is a productivity and efficient use of floodplains and coastal stand-alone system for an individual country (Myanmar), zones, while minimizing the loss of life and the impacts on while the other is for north-west South America. The livelihoods and assets through protective measures. System has also been successfully implemented at the

12 | 2017 ANNUAL REPORT – SERVICES FOR DECISION-MAKING TOWARDS A GLOBAL MULTI-HAZARD ALERT SYSTEM

In May, WMO launched the development phase for This global alert system will also benefit from the a Global Multi-hazard Alert System (GMAS). The WMO-supported Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) goal is to aggregate and share the authoritative and – an international standard format for emergency easily understood alerts that WMO Members provide alerting and public warning. It automates the to the general public, travellers, the humanitarian dissemination of official warnings through all media community and economic decision-makers. The for all hazards, including severe weather events, initiative was inspired by the 2015 Sendai Conference earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic activity, public on Disaster Risk Reduction. health threats, power outages, and many other emergencies. Warnings coded in the CAP format will GMAS will build on the best practices of WMO soon be aggregated by the WMO Alert Hub to further Members, such as the Meteoalarm system improve access to official warnings by the public and established in 2007 by 32 European countries. specialized users, such as humanitarian agencies. A Meteoalarm provides alerts of extreme weather using prototype is already operational. a universally understood system of symbols and color-coded maps. The WMO infrastructure of global and regional centres and systems described above will serve as a further resource for GMAS.

sub-national scale in Chiapas, Mexico. WMO is working than forecasting “100 km/h winds” or a “3-metre sea with FFGS regional centres to help them conduct flash surge”, the forecasts describe a predicted event’s flood verification studies. physical impacts and recommend specific precautionary actions. WMO also advocates the adoption Multi-hazard Early Warning Systems: A Checklist of Multi-Hazard Early Warning The Coastal Inundation Forecasting Demonstration Project Systems (MHEWS) as the most provides a good example of how a MHEWS can save lives. economically and operationally The project seeks to demonstrate that an integrated system effective approach to issuing can address all sources of coastal inundation, from storms warnings. MHEWS are end-to-end to sea surges to cresting rivers. Four sub-projects are

Outcome of the first systems that engage all relevant being implemented, in Bangladesh, the Caribbean, Fiji and Multi-hazard Early Warning Conference 22 to 23 May 2017 – Cancún, Mexico

Prepared by the partners of the International Network for actors and address all major Indonesia. The Bangladesh project, funded by the United Multi-hazard Early Warning Systems hazards. They combine political States Agency for International Development (USAID) leadership, weather forecasts, with additional support from the European Commission, WEATHER CLIMATE WATER MHEW_030918.indd 1 23/03/2018 12:51 warnings, media reports, was successfully completed in 2017. Forecasters at the emergency response, health facilities and recovery Bangladesh Meteorological Department, together with plans. Strong coordination among national agencies national partners and international experts, developed and institutions, with clear lines of authority and well- an end-to-end forecasting and early warning system for defined operational roles and procedures for action, is the coastal region, which is mostly at sea level, subject essential. These systems are even more effective when to frequent storms and tropical cyclones, and home to they use impact-based weather forecasts that make it three major river basins. Human and livestock deaths and easier for people to understand the risk they face: rather injuries have clearly been reduced.

2017 ANNUAL REPORT – SERVICES FOR DECISION-MAKING | 13 In 2017, the countries of South-Eastern Europe took major Meanwhile, international civil aviation is undergoing a steps towards the development of a regional multi-hazard transformation because global air traffic is doubling every early warning advisory system to improve forecasts and 15 years, with the strongest growth centred in the Asia- warnings of floods, severe storms, droughts, heatwaves Pacific region. Climate change, the drive for a globally and other hazards. The effort is being supported by WMO, interoperable and harmonized air traffic management USAID, the meteorological and hydrological services of system, and the increasing need for more effective South-Eastern Europe and stakeholder organizations. and efficient operations, while ensuring that safety Through a virtual platform, the system will support the is preserved, are also driving change. The sector will provision of accurate forecasts and warnings for decision- undergo a sweeping modernization programme through making by national authorities. It will also provide a to the 2030s. platform for regional cooperation. These realities are driving demand for cutting-edge In the Pacific region, where the financial costs and aeronautical meteorological services, which need to damages of natural hazards have been escalating, a be seamless and coordinated at the regional level. subregional hub for the Regional Integrated Multi-hazard Maintaining the status quo is no longer an option. Early warning System (RIMES) was inaugurated in Papua Meteorological information must be of higher precision New Guinea in August. This concluded a five-year project and accuracy to tackle these new challenges effectively. whereby WMO and RIMES, with support from the United Given the anticipated future growth in air traffic, WMO has Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and made aeronautical meteorological services one of its top the Pacific (ESCAP), have strengthened warning systems priorities in order to promote the safety, regularity and in high-risk, low-elevation coastal zones in select countries efficiency of international air navigation. in South and South-East Asia. In November, WMO organized the Aeronautical In March, WMO Members in South-East Asia adopted a Meteorology Scientific Conference. The Conference pilot project for a regional MHEWS. They will establish a produced a blueprint for action to boost scientific regional MHEWS and prepare the region for the future support for aviation safety, air navigation efficiency implementation of the Global Multi-hazard Alert System and environmental protection. The priorities include (GMAS) (see sidebar). addressing the current and future impact on aviation operations of extreme weather, climate change and The multi-hazard approach received a boost in May hazardous phenomena such as volcanic ash, space from the Multi-hazard Early Warning Conference: Saving weather disturbances and geomagnetic storms. Lives, Reducing Losses, held in Cancun. Hosted by the Government of Mexico and spearheaded by WMO and For WMO, the International Civil Aviation Organization the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (ICAO) is a key partner in ensuring a better integration (UNISDR), together with the World Bank and a wide of scientific information into air traffic management. array of partners, the conference agreed an action plan. This integration will improve aviation safety, enhance air The plan sets out an integrated, people-centred approach navigation capacity and efficiency, reduce the impact of uniting meteorological, hydrological, marine, geophysical, aviation on the environment and mitigate the impact of disaster risk management and health services through climate change and variability on aviation. the GMAS initiative. The event stressed the need for more collective, coordinated action on the “first mile” of WMO and ICAO are assisting developing countries in the early warning process as well as greater community building their capacity to effectively support international involvement and education to make sure that warnings air navigation. Aviation meteorological services are a reach people through to the “last mile.” major source of revenue for many national meteorological services. For NMHSs, therefore, a critical concern is the implementation of fair and transparent cost-recovery Ensuring the safety of air traffic mechanisms to ensure the sustainability and quality of meteorological services provided to international air Aviation is one of the most weather-sensitive of all navigation that meet the users’ needs and expectations. economic sectors. Three quarters of significant air traffic delays in regions with high traffic density are related to The two organizations are also working together to weather, and nearly half of all aircraft accidents occur ensure that a space weather service for international during operations in adverse weather. Other challenges air navigation becomes available by November 2018. include volcanic eruptions and volcanic ash clouds, which The effects of space weather can include damage to can create very serious hazards to aviation. satellites arising from charged particles to disruption of

14 | 2017 ANNUAL REPORT – SERVICES FOR DECISION-MAKING CLIMATE SERVICES FOR CLIMATE ACTION – VIDEOS

power grids on Earth during geomagnetic storms, radio The annual WMO Greenhouse Gas blackout on trans-polar aircraft routes and disturbance of Bulletin was published in October. satellite positioning systems. Space weather monitoring, It confirmed that in 2016 study and applications are more and more important concentrations of CO2 in the with the increasing use of space in day-to-day life for atmosphere surged at a record- telecommunications, observation and navigation. breaking speed to the highest level in at least 800 000 years. Global average concentrations of CO reached 403.3 parts per Services for climate action and resilience 2 million (ppm), up from 400.0 ppm in 2015, due to a combination of To support action under the United Nations Framework human activities and a strong El Niño event. Methane

Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and inform (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) also reached record levels. the general public about climate change, WMO provides Rapidly increasing levels of greenhouse gases have the annual updates on trends in atmospheric levels of potential to cause unprecedented changes in the climate greenhouse gases and trends in the global climate, system, leading to “severe ecological and economic including temperatures, state of the cryosphere, sea levels, disruptions”. The Bulletin is based on observations from extreme events and other climate-related information. the WMO Global Atmosphere Watch Programme. The great value of these reports is that they incorporate contributions from the global network of NMHSs and The WMO Statement on the State several international organizations. of the Global Climate in 2017 confirms that 2017 was the As a result of these reports, WMO has become widely warmest year without an El Niño; recognized as a highly credible source of climate 2016 remains the warmest year on information. The Parties to the UNFCCC formally record at 1.2 °C above the pre- acknowledged the WMO reports for the first time in industrial era, while 2017 and 2015 November 2016. They requested that WMO submit these were both 1.1 °C above pre- authoritative updates to future annual sessions of the industrial levels. The two years are Conference of the Parties in order to complement the virtually indistinguishable because assessment reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on the difference is less than one Climate Change, which are produced only every six hundredth of a degree, which is less than the statistical to seven years. The United Nations Secretary-General, margin of error. The 2017 Statement includes information António Guterres, and other top officials, not to mention submitted by United Nations agencies on human, socio- the international media, also regularly refer to these economic and environmental impacts as part of a drive to reports. The WMO Secretary-General, Petteri Taalas, had provide a more comprehensive, United Nations-wide the opportunity to describe recent WMO findings to policy brief for decision-makers on the interplay between delegates at the formal opening session of the annual weather, climate and water and the United Nations global UNFCCC conference in November 2017. development goals.

2017 ANNUAL REPORT – SERVICES FOR DECISION-MAKING | 15 El Niño 0.6 Neutral La Niña Weak then strong El Niño conditions held through 2015 and 2016

0.4 ° C)

0.2

0.0

–0.2 Anomaly relative to 1981–2010 (

–0.4

–0.6

1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 Year

The warmest non-El Niño year on record

Another influential report coordinated by WMO is the long-term trends (years to decades and beyond). This El Niño/La Niña Update. The Update provides authoritative information enables decision-makers to strengthen information on this natural phenomenon, which affects the climate resilience of communities, countries and the short-term climate around the world. It is a consensus economic sectors. report based on inputs from global prediction centres and El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) experts; it is In 2017, the GFCS commissioned a team of experts to used by United Nations agencies for their coordinated conduct a mid-term review of the progress made on the responses to emerging conditions and risks. While the El GFCS 10-year Implementation Plan. The review recognized Niño of 2015–2016 greatly affected more than 60 million that over its first five years the GFCS “has helped lead a people around the globe, 2017 was marked mostly by growing field of climate services and, in the process, has ENSO-neutral conditions, with a weak La Niña developing made contributions to improvements in the production, towards the end of the year. The Update was issued five availability, delivery, and use of climate services around times in 2017. the world ( … ). The Review commends the GFCS for key achievements in contributing to mainstreaming climate In addition to producing these global reports, WMO services across national, regional, and global scales.” The continues to advance the establishment of climate services review also concluded that the “GFCS is well positioned at the national level through the Global Framework for to play a unique role as an enabler, catalyst, synthesizing Climate Services (GFCS). Modelled on weather services, and sharing lessons, but also setting standards for good climate services draw on continued progress in climate practice.” science to provide information and analyses about the present climate, the near-term climate (such as the Recognizing that regionally coordinated climate next season, monsoon or El Niño/La Niña episode) and information can assist countries in managing the risks

16 | 2017 ANNUAL REPORT – SERVICES FOR DECISION-MAKING EL NIÑO/LA NIÑA UPDATE – VIDEO

of climate variability and change, WMO has helped to Services for the Arctic and Antarctic establish Regional Climate Outlook Forums (RCOFs) across the world. These Forums produce and disseminate consensus-based regional assessments of climate for the The Arctic is warming twice as fast as the rest of upcoming season, particularly of temperature and rainfall. the planet. The Arctic Ocean could be mostly free of They bring together climate experts and representatives summertime sea ice as early as the late 2030s, only of climate-sensitive sectors, such as agriculture, from two decades from now. Because of teleconnections, the subregions with shared climate interests, and they play poles influence weather and climate conditions in lower a strong role in the GFCS. The Climate Outlooks that they latitudes where hundreds of millions of people live. publish help society to prepare for climate variability Meanwhile, the dramatic changes in weather, climate on sub-seasonal to seasonal time scales and to build and ice conditions at the poles are leading to increased climate change resilience. Nineteen operational RCOFs human activities such as transportation, tourism, fishing have been established over the past two decades. In 2017, and the extraction of natural resources. The expected WMO formally designated five more institutions to serve increase in activity comes with its own share of risks to as WMO Regional Climate Centres to provide technical both the environment and society, including traditional support to RCOFs. indigenous livelihoods.

Because 2017 also marked 20 years of progress, WMO Accurate weather and sea-ice information will thus become conducted a comprehensive review of the RCOF process. increasingly vital for improving safety management in The review brought stakeholders together to chart a polar regions and beyond. WMO is working to enhance major upgrade of the RCOF methodology in order to meteorological and marine safety services in the Arctic and fully exploit recent advances in operational seasonal improve the underlying observing and telecommunication prediction. It examined the procedures RCOFs use in order systems. The Arctic and Antarctic are the world’s most to consolidate their strengths, identify gaps and propose poorly observed regions, which undermines the quality of ways to more effectively produce and communicate weather forecasts not only in the polar regions, but in other regional climate information. Key challenges and gaps parts of the world as well. include limited human and infrastructure capacity plus some technical and methodological issues. Future To achieve its goals, in May WMO obtained observer improvements could include more tailored forecast status at the Arctic Council. The Council is the leading products to meet specific user requirements, expanded intergovernmental forum promoting cooperation and RCOF product portfolios, regular sub-seasonal updates coordination among the Arctic States and communities, and routine evaluations of forecast skills. particularly on issues of sustainable development

2017 ANNUAL REPORT – SERVICES FOR DECISION-MAKING | 17 WMO POLAR PREDICTION PROJECT: YEAR OF POLAR PREDICTION – VIDEO

and environmental protection in the Arctic. The Arctic In addition, coordinated field campaigns will raise Council’s ministerial declaration recognized the “need to the number of observations in both polar regions. increase cooperation in meteorological, oceanographic A growing number of international projects, networks and terrestrial observations, research and services, and and organizations are already involved in activities taking the need for well-maintained and sustained observation place during the Year of Polar Prediction, including several networks and continuous monitoring of the Arctic, EU Horizon 2020 projects. There will be a special focus such as the World Meteorological Organization’s Global on sea-ice forecasting capabilities at monthly to seasonal Cryosphere Watch Program.” time scales. This will include the prediction of sea-ice conditions in the Northern Sea Route and in the Southern The year 2017 also saw the launch of a new WMO-led Ocean around Antarctica. international campaign. The Year of Polar Prediction aims to improve predictions of weather, climate and ice All observational data will be shared via the WMO conditions in the Arctic and Antarctic. Better predictions Information System (WIS) to allow operational forecasting will minimize environmental risks and maximize the centres around the world to receive the data in real time to opportunities associated with rapid climate change feed their forecasts. In addition, social scientists will look in polar regions, and close the current gaps in polar at how polar forecasts can be factored into socioeconomic forecasting capacity. The Year of Polar Prediction, which decision-making, while key stakeholders in the transport, runs from mid-2017 to mid-2019 in order to cover an shipping and tourism sectors will provide input on the entire year in both the Arctic and Antarctic, is led by WMO, practical needs of the user community. Germany’s Alfred Wegener Institute and a wide array of partners around the globe.

Over the two years, a large international and Chemical composition of the atmosphere interdisciplinary network of scientists and operational forecasting centres will jointly undertake intensive observation and modeling activities in the Arctic and The WMO Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) Programme Antarctic. During special observing periods, the number is supported by more than 500 observing stations of routine observations using, for example, weather around the world. A comprehensive quality management balloons launched from meteorological stations and framework ensures that observations of a wide range of buoy deployed from research vessels, will be enhanced; gases and particles adhere to the highest measurement coordinated aircraft campaigns and satellite missions will standards and that data from different sources are be carried out; and new automatic weather stations will be comparable. This gives confidence in the observing installed at different polar locations. network’s ability to detect regional differences in

18 | 2017 ANNUAL REPORT – SERVICES FOR DECISION-MAKING concentrations and long-term changes in the atmosphere’s it possible to understand changes in regional emissions. chemical composition. The data collected through GAW is This is useful because the oxidation of certain volatile becoming increasingly valuable for decision-making. organic compounds can lead to the formation and growth of secondary organic compounds that can take the form One of the first activities launched by WMO through of harmful particulate matter, such as the fine particles the GAW network was monitoring the state of the known as PM2.5 found in urban air pollution. stratospheric ozone layer in order to support the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer and its The first annual WMO Airborne Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Dust Bulletin was also issued in Layer. WMO also partners with UN Environment to March 2017 and the second is issue the extensively researched Scientific Assessment dated February 2018. Every year, of Ozone Depletion every four years. In early 2017, an estimated 2 000 million tons of the tenth meeting of the Ozone Research Managers, dust enter the atmosphere. While a forum that brings together leading ozone scientists much of this results from the and research managers from around the world, Earth’s natural cycles, a significant discussed recommendations on needs for research, amount is linked to human systematic observations, capacity development and data activities, especially unsustainable stewardship. Its recommendations were communicated land and water management. Dust to the Parties to the Vienna Convention. is a major component of atmospheric aerosols, which affect the global climate and have important effects on the The scientists warned against complacency and stressed weather through their influence on atmospheric dynamics, that further research and systematic observations clouds and precipitation. focussing on the complex relationship between ozone and climate should remain a priority. Their concern is The Bulletin supports efforts to improve observations and that in the second half of the twenty-first century the warnings of sand and dust storms, which pose serious stratospheric ozone layer will be strongly influenced by risks to the environment, to the economy and to human future concentrations of CO2, CH4 and N2O – the three health in arid and semi-arid regions. The first issue main long-lived greenhouse gases – while concentrations provided an overview of atmospheric dust levels and of ozone depleting halocarbons will decrease. Nitrous geographical distribution in 2016 (for an overview of the oxide, the fastest increasing ozone-depleting gas with an topics tackled in the second issue, see the sidebar Sand atmospheric burden that is relentlessly rising by about and Dust Storms in 2017). The global average Aerosol 0.3% per year, has the potential to become an important Optical Depth – a measure of the dust burden – was threat to the ozone layer. similar to previous years, according to the report, which highlighted particularly severe sand and dust storms in Recognizing that expanded and Iran and China/Mongolia. Due to the limited number of improved observations now observations, it is not possible to detect a statistically enable a broader assessment of significant trend in the aerosol load in the atmosphere changes in the global atmosphere, related to sand and dust storms from 2003 through to GAW expanded its range of 2017. reports in 2017. In May, it published the first issue of the WMO Reactive Ten years ago, WMO established the Sand and Dust Storm Gases Bulletin assessing global Warning Advisory and Assessment System to improve and regional trends in reactive observations and information concerning airborne gases. This group of gases dust and provide forecasts a full three days in advance. includes such compounds as Building on the central role of meteorological services surface ozone, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, sulphur in air-quality monitoring, WMO has set up a network of dioxide and volatile organic compounds, many of which forecasting centres to enhance regional and international are harmful pollutants. cooperation. The Barcelona Dust Forecast Centre provides forecasts of sand- and dust-storms for northern Africa, the The first issue focused on long-term observational data Middle East and Europe, and a regional centre in Barbados on volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and analysed is responsible for the pan-American region. In 2017, the past and recent trends. Volatile organic compounds Asian centre was approved and launched; it is operated comprise many individual compounds that have different out of Beijing by the China Meteorological Administration. emission sources and chemical properties. Long-term There are plans for a regional centre for West Asia to cover measurements of VOCs through a global network make the Arabian Peninsula.

2017 ANNUAL REPORT – SERVICES FOR DECISION-MAKING | 19 PROTECTING PEOPLE FROM SAND AND DUST STORMS – VIDEO

SAND AND DUST STORMS IN 2017

According to the WMO Airborne Dust Bulletin, most of the Guinea, while dust outbreaks in the Mediterranean and dust in 2017 was concentrated around its main sources: Southern Europe have been less frequent than in previous the belt of tropical and subtropical deserts of the northern years. An exception occurred in mid-October, when the hemisphere, stretching from the Sahara through the strong southern flow associated with Cyclone Ophelia Arabian and Syrian deserts to the Thar desert between carried considerable amounts of Saharan dust to the north India and Pakistan, as well as the mid-latitude deserts of affecting Western Europe and especially the British Isles, Central Asia and China/Mongolia. where deterioration in air quality was aggravated by the huge amount of soot released by fierce forest fires in From these sources, dust is transported to surrounding Portugal and Spain. regions. The strip of the northern tropical Atlantic stretching between West Africa and the Caribbean turns out to be the The presence of dust has been a little lower than normal main transport route at a global level. A significant part of throughout West Asia, with the exception of the areas the dust particles raised in the Sahara is transported along near the Red Sea. However, on 19 March, after sweeping this path until they are deposited on the ocean itself, on the Libya and Egypt, a huge dust storm reached Saudi Arabia Caribbean or in Central and South America. and severely disrupted daily life, especially air and ground transportation as a result of a dramatic decrease In the Northern Africa region, when comparing the 2017 in visibility. It was named Madar by the Committee for values with the 2013–2016 reference levels, it can be seen Naming Saudi Climate Conditions. that the dust sources of the western part, especially those in southern Algeria, Mali and Mauritania, have been more The Bulletin’s estimates of dust content are derived active than usual, whereas emission has been relatively from daily forecasts from the Copernicus Atmosphere low from the Libyan desert. Then, transport has been Monitoring Service of the European Centre for Medium- directed mostly towards the Americas and the Gulf of range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF).

Progress continues on expanding and strengthening the New decision-support products are coming online Integrated Global Greenhouse Gas Information System thanks to collaboration among the GAW observational (IG3IS). The IG3IS combines networks of high-resolution community, modelling communities and end users of monitoring instruments with advanced models that data on atmospheric composition. Many of these products simulate how winds and rain disperse greenhouse gases are near-real-time forecasts. One important service that after they are emitted, making it possible to identify is already operational is the Copernicus Atmosphere their sources and sinks more precisely. The IG3IS team is Monitoring Service (CAMS) which provides near-real- currently focused on reducing the uncertainty of national time data analyses and forecasts of atmospheric chemical emission inventory reporting to the UNFCCC; offering constituents relevant to air quality and environmental support for the Paris Agreement’s global stocktake; locating health. These include six-day forecasts of several and quantifying previously unknown emission reduction atmospheric substances, including tropospheric ozone opportunities, such as fugitive methane emissions from concentrations, and of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), both industrial sources; and providing subnational entities of which are updated every three hours on a global map. such as large urban regions (megacities) with timely and quantified information on the amounts, trends and WMO is also developing a number of new applications, attribution by sector of their greenhouse gas emissions. including products on the interaction between agriculture

20 | 2017 ANNUAL REPORT – SERVICES FOR DECISION-MAKING THE CARBON CYCLE – VIDEO

and atmospheric composition, forecasts of emissions tailored guidance to drought- from vegetation fires and their impacts on human health affected populations around the and security in South-East Asia, and analyses of how the world. The Integrated Drought nitrogen cycle affects various types of ecosystem. In early Management HelpDesk will provide 2017, a new project was launched that aims to generate stakeholders with policy guidance, global maps of total atmospheric deposition and ambient scientific information and best gases and aerosols. practices for integrated drought management. With its “Ask” and “Find” functions, the HelpDesk Mitigating drought and desertification enables stakeholders to contact experts directly for advice and to access extensive collections of drought-management WMO provides guidance and scientific information to knowledge. WMO, GWP and over 30 IDMP partner assist national agencies responsible for addressing organizations, each with its particular expertise in drought drought risks. It encourages countries to take early action management, will respond to HelpDesk inquiries. against drought and to move towards a more proactive approach. There is an urgent need for international focus In recent years, South Asian countries have been suffering on better preparing countries under threat of drought. from increasing droughts as a consequence of delays in, As the planet’s climate changes, severe dry spells are and changing patterns of, monsoon rainfall. Developed becoming more and more frequent. Since the 1970s, the by the International Water Management Institute with land area in the world affected by drought has doubled. support from WMO, GWP and others, a new tool called The burden is especially high in developing countries, the South Asia Drought Monitoring System (SADMS) is where agriculture remains an economic mainstay. expected to provide comprehensive information about the onset and progression of drought. The tool combines Fortunately, there is no shortage of knowledge, satellite images of vegetation with weather data, soil- technologies and good practices for addressing drought, moisture levels and crop-yield information. It helps predict water shortages and their implications for food security the severity and duration of imminent dry spells. The new and rural development. However, several questions interactive SADMS online portal will support data sharing remain, including the real cost to a country’s economy, and instant access to all available drought and related and whether preparing for droughts is worth the cost. maps for the entire region. In April, WMO and the Global Water Partnership (GWP) published Benefits of action and costs of inaction: Drought A number of other WMO activities also support efforts to mitigation and preparedness – A literature review. The manage drought and desertification. The IDMP supported paper reviews economic assessments of drought impacts the development of a National Drought Action Plan for and describes the main obstacles and opportunities Slovakia, which the government adopted in November. It facing the transition from reactive crisis management to also helped to build capacity for drought resilience in the proactive risk management. Horn of Africa and in West Africa. Elsewhere, progress was made on a Drought Monitoring, Early Warning and In September, WMO and GWP joined with other partners Mitigation System for South America and on developing to launch an online help desk for the Integrated Drought national drought policies in several Pacific Island Countries, Management Programme (IDMP) designed to provide including the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and Kiribati.

2017 ANNUAL REPORT – SERVICES FOR DECISION-MAKING | 21 PART III SUPPORTING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

National Meteorological and Hydrological Services, companies, research institutes and experts that constitute the WMO community make a vital contribution to sustainable development. Their weather forecasts and warnings enable countries to reduce the damage from extreme events, which could otherwise set back progress on development by years. Their climate predictions and services guide public-sector policies for promoting sustainable development, and private-sector decisions that enhance economic progress. Hydrological information makes it possible to secure water supplies and manage floods and drought. WMO supports the United Nations 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals by mobilizing resources for critical investments in developing countries.

Mobilizing resources and fostering considerable counterpart contributions from national resources, such as local infrastructure, staffing and partnerships operational costs. WMO is striving to expand this network by creating more linkages among NMHSs, bringing WMO helps to build the capacity of NMHSs in developing more members into the programme and therefore countries, least developed countries and small island strengthening the spirit of cooperation and friendship. developing States and territories by mobilizing funds from a variety of multilateral and bilateral sources. It In April, the Informal Planning Meeting (IPM) of the VCP also facilitates twinning cooperation between NMHSs, met to discuss the numerous development projects whereby more advanced services work directly with implemented by WMO and IPM members. The meeting services in developing countries to help strengthen their focused on increasing the sustainability of the projects, capacity. to avoid duplication and ensure synergies. The VCP, along with bilateral projects managed by IPM members, One of the main mechanisms WMO uses to promote reported a total investment in hydrometeorological capacity development is the demand-driven, small-grant development projects of US$ 34 610 000. Voluntary Cooperation Programme (VCP). In 2017, the Programme celebrated 50 years of meeting the needs Over the past decade, WMO has recorded a significant of Members through direct financing and the transfer of increase in bilateral projects. The current portfolio of expertise and technology between Members. Its success approximately US$ 30 million includes projects being has been largely due to the willingness of WMO Members implemented in Africa, Asia, Pacific Ocean islands and to make financial contributions to the Programme and to Latin America. Bilateral contributors include Canada, share scientific knowledge and the latest technological Finland, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Japan, Norway, advances. Many current VCP projects focus on climate Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, the United data rescue and management, television studios, and Kingdom and the United States of America. developing strategic planning documents. In August 2017, WMO and USAID signed an agreement The Programme and donor countries provide equipment, for the development and implementation of activities fellowships, expertise and financing, while recipient to reduce the risk of hydrometeorological hazards such countries ensure their effective use by providing as floods, cyclones, storm surges, droughts and other

22 | 2017 ANNUAL REPORT – SERVICES FOR DECISION-MAKING METAGRI EMPOWERING AFRICAN FARMERS – VIDEO

weather hazards globally. Within this agreement, USAID promises to help trigger greater economic development will provide US$ 10 million over the next five years of the Lake Victoria Basin. in support of activities and projects to help countries respond to hydrometeorological hazards. The Climate Risk and Early Warning System (CREWS) initiative aims to mobilize more than US$ 100 million by 2020 and to leverage additional financing to protect How WMO supports Africa populations exposed to extreme climate events. It helps least developed countries and small island developing Weather and climate drive nine out of 10 disasters in States to strengthen risk information and early warning Africa and threaten the region’s hard-won development systems. The CREWS initiative is being implemented by gains. Floods, droughts, tropical cyclones and landslides WMO, UNISDR, the World Bank and the Global Facility continue to cause heavy damage and lost livelihoods. for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR), and it is Over the last two decades, these disasters have cost financed by Australia, France, Germany, Luxembourg and the continent an estimated US$ 10 billion. With climate The Netherlands. It currently supports country projects change, hydrometeorological disasters are projected to for strengthening risk information and early warning increase in frequency and intensity. systems in Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mali and Niger. In 2010, the African Ministerial Conference on Meteorology (AMCOMET) was established as a permanent forum where African ministers convene every two years to discuss In March, the Adaptation Fund Board established policy matters related to the development of meteorology, under the Kyoto Protocol to the UNFCCC endorsed a its applications and its contribution to socioeconomic US$ 6.8 million proposal submitted by WMO entitled the development. In September 2017, the inaugural Agricultural Climate Resilience Enhancement Initiative AMCOMET Africa Hydromet Forum was held at the (ACREI). Targeted countries include Ethiopia, Kenya African Union Commission Headquarters in Addis Ababa. and Uganda. WMO thus became the first multilateral It brought together over 500 experts from governments, implementing entity to have a regional proposal approved academia, non-governmental organizations, United by the Adaptation Fund Board under the pilot programme Nations agencies, development partners and the private for regional projects and programmes. sector with more than 30 ministers from ministries responsible for meteorology, hydrology and disaster risk The goal of the project is to develop and implement management. adaptation strategies and measures that will strengthen the resilience of vulnerable smallholder farmers, agro- During the Forum, WMO, the East African Community and pastoralists and pastoralists in the Horn of Africa. The the UK Department for International Development (DFID) project is aligned with the Intergovernmental Authority launched the HIGH-impact Weather LAke System Project on Development (IGAD) Drought Disaster Resilience and (known as HighWAY). HighWAY will address the need for Sustainability Initiative, the National Adaptation Plans of a regional early warning system to prevent deaths on Lake Action (NAPAs) under the UNFCCC, and the development Victoria, where 3 000–5 000 deaths occur each year due to strategies and visions of participating countries. It will be accidents caused by strong winds and waves. The project implemented by WMO. Executing entities will include FAO

2017 ANNUAL REPORT – SERVICES FOR DECISION-MAKING | 23 WMO is also supporting West African countries through its Training Programme on Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction in Agriculture. Funded by the Government of Italy, this new training programme will strengthen the capacity of 17 national technical services to use warning systems and climate prediction enabling them to tackle climate risks to agriculture. With a budget of some € 820 000, the project will focus on training experts from national agricultural, agro-meteorological, hydrological and early warning services. It will organize training courses for technicians and experts of national services in order to develop effective climate services for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction.

Implemented jointly with EUMETSAT, the Weather and Climate Services for African, Caribbean and Pacific Countries initiative seeks to optimize the use of hydrometeorological infrastructure and knowledge

–500 –300 –200 –100 –80 –60 –40 –20 –10 –5 5 10 20 40 60 80 100 200 300 500 to support decision-making on climate adaptation and Total precipitation (kg m–2) mitigation policies in the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States. Consistent with the overall approach of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and African Centre for Meteorological the GFCS, the initiative will provide climate information Applications for Development services with technical and financial assistance, infrastructure and capacity building. It will also bring together users and providers of climate services to ensure and IGAD, and NMHSs in the participating countries will that services fully meet user needs. play active roles.

WMO is empowering farmers in West Africa to meet the How WMO supports Asia and the challenges of insufficient rainfall and other climate change impacts through innovative and practical METAGRI and South‑West Pacific METAGRI OPERATIONAL projects. Two schemes were financed by Norway and Spain and implemented from WMO opened the Asia-Pacific Regional Office in Singapore 2008 to 2015 with the aid of the national meteorological in 2017 to improve coordination on hazards such as floods services of the subregion’s 17 countries. As described and fires, meteorological services for rapidly evolving in a new WMO video, the METAGRI projects provide economic sectors such as air and marine transport, and targeted climate services through roving seminars to rural WMO capacity-development initiatives. The office will producers in a drive to make them less vulnerable to the also work with Members to foster greater cooperation on vagaries of weather and climate. regional challenges such as transboundary haze arising from large-scale land and vegetation fires. Over 350 seminars have been organized in seven years, benefiting more than 14 000 farmers, who in turn In August, WMO together with the Secretariat of the spread the knowledge within their communities. Around Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and 7 200 rain gauges have been distributed so that farmers the Government of the Solomon Islands organized the can measure the quantity of rainfall in their villages and Second Pacific Ministerial Meeting on Meteorology. The close to their farms. This simple tool is an unaffordable 170 participants included 18 government ministers or luxury for many farmers in Africa. The rain gauges help their representatives. The Fourth Session of the Pacific farmers to decide when and what kinds of seed to plant; Meteorological Council, which consists of directors of when to apply fertilizers or pesticides; and how to manage the meteorological services in the region, preceded the their livestock. Essentially, they can plan their activities ministerial session. on the basis of reliable rainfall information, which they provide themselves. During 2016–2017, a concept note The resulting ministerial declaration noted that the describing the components of a new project called “impacts of climate variability and change represent a METAGRI SERVICES was addressed to potential donors. major challenge to small islands (…). The priority issues

24 | 2017 ANNUAL REPORT – SERVICES FOR DECISION-MAKING of particular concern to the region include: sea-level rise, With the support of the Afghanistan Early Warning salt water intrusion, drought, flooding, coastal inundation, System Project, a joint effort by WMO, USAID/Office of ocean state (tides, swells, waves, acidification), and U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance and the Turkish State impacts on health (e.g. malaria and dengue) (…) water Meteorological Service, the Afghanistan Meteorological resources, agriculture and fisheries (invasive species, etc.) Department (AMD) is now posting basic severe weather (…). Demands for sustainable weather, climate, ocean and early warnings using common alerting protocols (CAP) water services to reduce these impacts are growing in the on its website in Pashto, Dari and English. Afghanistan is region.” The declaration also stressed the need for more highly exposed to hydrometeorological hazards, which capacity-building. claimed close to 15 000 lives and cost an estimated US$ 396 million in economic losses from 1980 to 2015, WMO is currently implementing several projects in according to the International Disaster Database, Centre the region under the Climate Risk and Early Warning for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED). System (CREWS) initiative. Funded by CREWS and Such hazards include heavy precipitation, floods and flash Environment and Climate Change Canada, the projects floods, droughts, strong winds, sand and dust storms and aim to improve early warning systems by strengthening extreme temperatures. the Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre in Nadi, Fiji, and NMHSs in the Pacific islands and South-East Asia. The Afghanistan Meteorological Department issued its Project outcomes are expected to include strengthened first flood warning only a week after a meteorological institutions, enhanced product development and satellite-data reception, visualization and processing accessibility, and improved service delivery. station was installed in the country through this project. A thorough renovation of the AMD facilities ensured that A new report, Pacific Islands the infrastructure needed for such service delivery was in Meteorological Services in Action: place: uninterrupted power supply, a dedicated forecasting A Compendium of Climate Services room, IT equipment with ample computing power, local Case Studies, explores how climate and wide area networks, sufficient Internet bandwidth, and services support decision-making meteorological data processing and visualization software. and how to ensure that the AMD can now receive satellite images and products information travels the last mile to from the EUMETSAT operational geostationary satellite. end users. The report is a product Furthermore, AMD staff also benefited from a training of the Finnish-Pacific (FINPAC) programme. project, Reduced Vulnerability of Pacific Island Villagers’ Livelihoods to the Effects of Climate Change, How WMO supports the Americas which was carried out by SPREP, the Finnish Meteorological Institute and the Pacific NMHSs. It shows how improved national meteorological and hydrological services can build After four years of preparation, the Caribbean Institute for climate- and disaster-ready communities in a region that is Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH) has been officially vulnerable to extreme weather and climate change. It also designated as the WMO Regional Climate Centre (RCC) documents the lessons learned from delivering climate for the Caribbean. This achievement is a critical step in the services in the Pacific region. regional implementation of the GFCS. Based in Barbados, CIMH is an organ of the Caribbean Meteorological WMO is working with governments and partners from Organization. Its designation as RCC makes it the first civil society in Fiji, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon institution in North America, Central America and the Islands, Timor-Leste and Vanuatu to develop a potential Caribbean, and the first small island developing State Green Climate Fund (GCF) project, Enhancing Early to host such a Centre. WMO-designated RCCs generate Warning Systems to build greater resilience to hydro and deliver regionally-focused climate information and and meteorological hazards in Pacific SIDS. The five prediction products as well as training and capacity island countries are teaming up with WMO to boost their building. resilience to weather events in response to hazards that climate change is making more extreme and difficult The RCC for the Caribbean will lead the development to forecast. To ensure that this regional project meets and distribution of the operational climate products, the unique needs of each country as well as the funding services and programmes delivered by CIMH. These will requirements of GCF, WMO has received a grant of include long-range (seasonal) forecasts, the Caribbean US$ 535 000 to strengthen the project concept and prepare Climate Outlook Forum (CariCOF), the Caribbean Drought an innovative and high-impact financing proposal. and Precipitation Monitoring Network and sectoral

2017 ANNUAL REPORT – SERVICES FOR DECISION-MAKING | 25 climate bulletins. The Centre will provide training on the prospects. The European Union is funding a Programme development and delivery of climate products and services for Improving National Early Warning System and Flood to national providers of climate information. It will also Prevention in Albania (PRONEWS). Running through offer training to national and regional stakeholders on how 2017 and 2018, the project has been commissioned by to effectively interpret climate information and integrate it a consortium composed of the Italian Civil Protection in their planning and decision-making activities. Department as coordinator, WMO, the Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service, ECMWF, The weather, climate and water infrastructure of Haiti was the Regional Environmental Centre and the CIMA severely damaged during the 2010 earthquake. In a bid to Research Foundation. WMO is supporting the Institute of boost disaster resilience and climate change adaptation, GeoSciences, Energy, Water and Environment of Albania WMO developed the Climate Services to Reduce in improving the legal and institutional framework Vulnerability in Haiti project with Can$ 6.5 million from for early warning systems and strengthening flood Environment and Climate Change Canada. The project is forecasting and warning capacities. rebuilding and modernizing the NMHSs and investing in key equipment. With the inauguration of the new building The WMO Sand and Dust Storm Warning Advisory and in May, the project is now focusing more on long-term Assessment System (SDS-WAS) Regional Centre for priorities such as training, technical assistance, and Northern Africa, Middle East and Europe is hosted by Spain’s monitoring and dissemination systems. State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) and the Barcelona Supercomputing Centre (BSC). SDS-WAS enhances the Climandes is a twinning project between the national ability of countries to deliver timely, quality sand- and dust- meteorological service of Switzerland, MeteoSwiss, and storm forecasts, observations, information and knowledge the Peruvian national hydrological and meteorological to users through an international partnership of research service (SENAMHI). It is financed by the Swiss Agency for and operational communities. WMO supported the centre’s Development and Cooperation (SDC). The second phase of establishment and is now promoting its development the project is developing climate services for agriculture through workshops and scientific activities. and further strengthening the Regional Training Centre. Progress in 2017 included the generation of hindcasts with the CPT (climate prediction tool) statistical model, the generation of a gridded precipitation dataset as well Education and training as the evaluation of different reanalysis datasets, and the implementation of online and classroom courses on In today’s complex and rapidly changing world, the diverse topics related to the project. A great number of need for well trained and highly skilled meteorologists, students and professionals from the Andean region and climatologists and hydrologists has become more beyond benefited from these courses. crucial than ever before. At the same time, the range of knowledge and skills required by meteorologists has grown immensely. In 2017, WMO continued to address How WMO supports Europe this challenge by broadening its partnerships on education and training: it signed or renewed 11 memorandums of understanding and letters of agreement. It also awarded In recent years, South-East Europe has experienced about 120 fellowships for studies in 21 institutions in a significant number of severe meteorological and 17 countries, seeking to encourage female applicants. hydrological events leading to floods, landslides, droughts, forest fires, prolonged cold spells, heatwaves, WMO co-sponsored 37 short training courses, 18 of and severe thunderstorms and hailstorms. In 2016 WMO, which were offered by WMO Regional Training Centres, with support from USAID, launched the development and supported 102 participants from 44 countries. Some phase of the South-East European Multi-Hazard Early 35 participants in the WMO Online Course for Trainers Warning Advisory System project. Work continued in received certificates. A blended-learning (online and 2017 to ensure that the system will be operational by on-site) course provided jointly by MeteoSwiss and the 2023. Peruvian National Service for Meteorology and Hydrology (SENAMHI) trained over 80 participants from the Andean Albania is vulnerable to a number of man-made and region on seasonal climate forecasting. In 2017, a two- natural hazards such as earthquakes, floods and year Training Programme on Climate Change Adaptation droughts. Compounded by the lack of catastrophe and Disaster Risk Reduction in Agriculture was launched. insurance, these hazards could have devastating effects It is sponsored by the Italian Agency for Development on Albania’s population, its economy and growth Cooperation (AICS).

26 | 2017 ANNUAL REPORT – SERVICES FOR DECISION-MAKING WHY THE WORLD NEEDS METEROLOGISTS – VIDEO

The WMO Global Campus, an initiative to enhance the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the SIDS collaboration and sharing among Regional Training Accelerated Modality of Action (SAMOA) Pathway, the Centres and other WMO training partners, launched Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and the its new WMOLearn website. The site now includes a Paris Agreement on climate change. They called for action calendar of global events, a draft road map for future at the national, regional and global levels to help WMO developments, and highlights of several collaborative and NMHSs to develop and deliver improved services by projects inspired by the WMO Global Campus concept. ensuring adequate facilities and resources for education Additional enhancements are planned for 2018. and training in weather, climate, and water-related fields.

The Thirteenth WMO Symposium on Education and To raise awareness of the need for more training and Training was held in Bridgetown, Barbados, from education in the fields of weather, climate and water, 30 October to 2 November. The participants explored how WMO released an animation in 2017 entitled Why the the meteorological and hydrological communities could world needs meteorologists. The video describes how support various education and training initiatives aimed at meteorologists, climatologists and hydrologists contribute helping governments to meet their global commitments to society. It is available in Arabic, English, French, Russian relating to natural disasters, environmental degradation, and Spanish.

2017 ANNUAL REPORT – SERVICES FOR DECISION-MAKING | 27 PART IV WMO BUDGET, STAFFING AND STRUCTURE

WMO regular budget for the year 2017 by expected results (in Swiss francs)

Expected result Total 1. Improved service quality and service delivery 6 017 100 2. Reduced disaster risk 2 345 000 3. Improved data processing, modelling and forecasting 5 738 500 4. Improved observations and data exchange 9 160 700 5. Advance targeted research 6 522 200 6. Strengthened capacity development 13 437 100 7. Strengthened partnerships 5 307 900 8. Improved efficiency and effectiveness 16 623 200 Total regular budget 2017 65 151 700 (Cost of administration apportioned by expected result: 12 773 200)

Note: These eight expected results are set out in the WMO mountain regions, capacity development, and improved Strategic Plan 2016–2019 (WMO-No. 1161), approved by WMO governance. the Seventeenth World Meteorological Congress in May 2015. The Plan also defines seven strategic priorities: The enhanced implementation of WMO expected results disaster risk reduction, the Global Framework for Climate and strategic priorities is made possible by additional Services, the WMO Integrated Global Observing System, support in the form of in-kind and voluntary contributions aviation meteorological services, polar and high- from Members and partners.

Secretariat staffing table (as at 31 December 2017)

Total Male Female 3 2 1 Executive management 190 117 73 Staff in the Professional category and above 108 26 82 Staff in the General Service category 301 145 156

forces. The goal for WMO is to remain fit-for-purpose and WMO reform to become more and more nimble and cost-effective. The reform aims to coordinate systems of observation WMO recognizes the need to continuously adapt to a and data management, to standardize observations and rapidly changing world. The need for regular reform is being measurements, to provide mechanisms for engaging with driven by environmental degradation, resource constraints, partners beyond the WMO community and to harmonize increased competition, technological advances, and other services for decision-making and socioeconomic benefits.

28 | 2017 ANNUAL REPORT – SERVICES FOR DECISION-MAKING NEW RECORDS REACHED The potential benefits of the WMO reform process: OR ANNOUNCED IN 2017 • Earth system approach: meteorology, climatology, hydrology, oceanography, seismology, volcanology, air quality, greenhouse gases; 300 000 people: highest mortality directly associated with a tropical cyclone, which passed • Multi-hazard and impact-based seamless services: through Bangladesh (at time of incident, East weather, climate, water, aviation, marine, agriculture, urban, energy, health; Pakistan) on 12–13 November 1970

• Wide climate perspective: observations, services, science, mitigation and adaptation; 1 300 people: highest mortality directly associated with a tornado, which destroyed the • Engagement of hydrological services in WMO activities Manikganj district, Bangladesh, on 26 April 1989 and weather-water synergies;

• Organized and controlled engagement of the private sector in WMO activities; 469 people: highest mortality associated with a lightning strike, which caused an oil tank fire in • Optimal use of resources of National Meteorological and Dronka, Egypt, on 2 November 1994 Hydrological Services and the Secretariat, thus providing more support for regional activities. 21 people: highest mortality directly associated with a single lightning flash, in Manica Tribal Trust How the reform process works Lands, Zimbabwe (at the time of incident, Rhodesia), on 23 December 1975 In addition to Congress, which is the ultimate decision- making body of WMO, the WMO governance structure currently includes the Executive Council, six Regional 246 people: highest mortality associated with a Associations and eight Technical Commissions. As per the hailstorm, near Moradabad, India, on 30 April 1888; request of the Seventeenth World Meteorological Congress hailstones were said to be as large as “goose eggs and (2015), WMO reform will address the overall structure of oranges and cricket balls” this group of bodies as well as the composition of each one’s membership. This will include the politically sensitive issue of Executive Council membership as well as the 19.8 °C (67.6 °F): highest temperature for the number and distribution of seats and the schedule for Antarctica Region – defined by WMO and the United rotation of Members. The review may also address other Nations as all land and ice south of 60°S – recorded at concerns, such as coordination among bodies, the role of Signy Research Station, Borge Bay, on Signy Island, on WMO regional offices, and the perception that meetings 30 January 1982 and costs have proliferated. Any reform will require a smooth transition that does not disrupt ongoing business. 17.5 °C (63.5 °F): highest temperature for In 2016, the Executive Council tasked its Working Group the Antarctic continent – defined as the main on Strategic and Operational Planning (WG-SOP) continental landmass and adjoining islands – recorded with launching this review. The WG-SOP established a on 24 March 2015 at the Argentine Research Base subgroup on Structure, Planning and Budget to look into Esperanza, located near the northern tip of the this issue as well as the preparation of the 2020–2023 Antarctic Peninsula WMO Strategic and Operational Plans. The reform process, therefore, is taking place in parallel with the development of the new Strategic Plan. -7.0 °C (19.4 °F): highest temperature for the Antarctic Plateau (at or above 2 500 metres Find out more ( 8 202 feet)), recorded at the Automatic Weather • Reports of the Executive Council Working Group on Station (AWS) site D-80, located inland of the Adélie Strategic and Operational Planning; Coast, on 28 December 1989 Source for mortality records and Antarctic records: https://wmo.asu.edu/ • Executive Council, Abridged Final Report of the Sixty- ninth Session (WMO-No. 1196), Decision 68 (EC-69) – WMO constituent body reform; +1.1 °C above pre-industrial levels: globally • Executive Council, Abridged Final Report of the Sixty- averaged temperature for 2017 eighth Session (WMO-No. 1168), Decision 84 (EC‑68) – Source: WMO Statement on the State of the Global Climate in 2017 Governance review. (WMO-No. 1212)

2017 ANNUAL REPORT – SERVICES FOR DECISION-MAKING | 29 WMO in the News

30 | 2017 ANNUAL REPORT – SERVICES FOR DECISION-MAKING

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