Radio frequency bands are a key requirement for all Earth-observation systems and must be protected from harmful interference, according to WMO Secretary-General Prof. Petteri Taalas.
Writing in the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) News magazine, Prof Taalas outlines WMO's position ahead of the forthcoming World Radiocommunication Conference.
"Access to the radio-frequency spectrum is critical to the meteorological and hydrological infrastructure that underpins weather and related environmental services worldwide. Satellites, weather radar, radiosondes, hydrological observing systems, and drifting buoys all operate based on radio or microwave transmissions," he writes.
"The safety of life and property depends on weather and environmental forecasts. Extended warning times for severe events enable citizens, civil authorities and first responders to act."
The World Radiocommunication Conference, WRC-23, is organized by ITU and takes place from 20 November and 15 December in Dubai. It will update the Radio Regulations, the global treaty governing radio spectrum and satellite orbits.
Ahead of the conference, ITU News published a dedicated edition on Science services : Earth observation at the World Radiocommunication Conference.
"Radio networks are vital to making our world more sustainable, and WRC-23 can help us move forward together on all fronts," comments ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin.
"One of those fronts is climate monitoring, mitigation, and adaptation. ITU is a key partner in Early Warnings for All - the UN Secretary-General's groundbreaking initiative to ensure everyone on Earth is protected from climate hazards and disasters through life-saving alerts by the end of 2027. At this critical juncture for action, ITU News Magazine explores space-based science services. Through keen observation and data, we can build a more resilient, inclusive, fair, and sustainable world."
Longstanding collaboration between WMO and the ITU Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R - one of three Sectors of the International Telecommunication Union) has cemented the growing synergies between meteorology, early warning systems, data and digital technologies.
WMO, through its Expert Team on Radio Frequency Coordination has produced a position statement on the agenda for the World Radiocommunication Conference. From a meteorological and climate-monitoring perspective, the most critical issues that require support from national administrations are concerned with the measurement of sea surface temperature and the observations of space weather.
