Transcript WMO Update on Challenges & Opportunities by M. Jarraud

WMO MESSAGE ON THE OCCASION OF THE
PLENARY EVENT OF THE UNITED NATIONS
COMMITTEE ON THE PEACEFUL USES OF
OUTER SPACE (UN COPUOS)
(Hyderabad, India, 25 September 2007)
by
Jeremiah Lengoasa
Assistant Secretary-General
on behalf of
M. Jarraud
Secretary-General of the
World Meteorological Organization
Space-based optimization made
great achievements in past years
Even now we have a mixed observing
data sets like the following…
Data are used:1) improving forecasting; 2) real time
warning 3) satellite rainfall algorithm development,
CAL/VAL; 4) information services to the local information
networks
Sand & dust storms
Wildfires
Tropical cyclones
Meteorological support also provided during
non-hydrometeorological hazards:
Volcanic ash dispersion
Propagation of radiative &
chemical substances
Pest control & locust
migration
Crop & food security
Health issues
A new factor: climate change
increases in global average
air and ocean
temperatures
widespread melting of
snow & ice
Arctic ice cover 1979
rising global mean sea level
Arctic ice cover 2005
Satellite observations are
increasingly essential for
disaster risk reduction
Establishment of a composite
WMO GOS/WIGOS
GEO implementation &
GEOSS integration
IPY 2007-2008
Climate change: follow-up of
adaptation & mitigation
.....................
For which WMO is proud of
its partnership with all
satellite operators
data
products
information
• Satellite data processing
and products/information
generation is of great
challenge (sciences,
technologies, calibration,
validation with ground
observations, etc..)
• Satellite operators should
develop value-added
informative products and
make them available to
worldwide users, especially
to developing countries.
knowledge
The Earth is a complex
system of systems…
…understanding it requiring
comprehensive observations
Thank You