The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is constantly improving its guidance for the design and evolution of global observing systems - the backbone for weather forecasts, climate and ocean monitoring, disaster warnings and environmental services.
This is to respond to growing and evolving user needs because of our changing climate, increased exposure to extreme weather, technological advances and new demands from sectors such as aviation, disaster risk reduction and water management.
WMO has today published Statements of Guidance for Atmospheric , Oceanic and Cryospheric Applications , following two years' work by international groups of experts under the WMO Integrated Global Observing System (WIGOS) Rolling Review of Requirements (RRR).
Statements of Guidance synthesize the latest RRR findings in what is a continuous process. They help identify where current observing systems are working well, where gaps exist, and where future investment can deliver the greatest benefit. They cover observations from satellites, oceans, land stations, the atmosphere and the cryosphere.
The three new Statements of Guidance provide prioritised, strategic recommendations for governments, meteorological services, research institutions, satellite agencies and funding bodies on how to:
- maintain critical observing networks,
- improve existing systems,
- develop new observing capabilities, and
- ensure investments are aligned with international priorities.
By linking observational needs with current observing capabilities, the RRR helps ensure that the WMO Integrated Global Observing System (WIGOS) remains effective, coordinated and focused on delivering societal benefits, including better forecasts, early warnings, climate resilience and sustainable development.
The Statements of Guidance have been developed under WIGOS framework, with great contributions from Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS), led by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO , Global Atmospheric Watch (GAW) , Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) and Global Cryosphere Watch (GCW) .
Key benefits of the RRR include:
- User-driven decision making
Observing system priorities are based on documented and agreed user requirements, not on technology availability alone.
- Evidence-based prioritisation
By comparing requirements with actual observing capabilities, the RRR provides a transparent and defensible basis for identifying where investment or action will deliver the greatest benefit.
- Global coordination and efficiency
The process helps avoid duplication, highlights interdependencies between systems, and supports coordinated global networks (e.g. WMO's Global Basic Observing Network and Regional Basic Observing Network and the WMO-led Global Atmosphere Watch and Global Cryosphere Watch), and co-sponsored programmes systems such as the IOC-led Global Ocean Observing System and Global Climate Observing System).
- Strategic planning tool
It supports national, regional and international planning, helping Members justify investments and align them with global priorities.
- Adaptability over time
The RRR ensures observing systems remain relevant as user needs, science and technology evolve.
Every day, more than 100 million observations flow from satellites, ocean observing networks, weather stations, and radiosondes into a global processing system. The RRR process is an anchor in the coordination of this supply chain which sets the technical standards that make data interoperable across borders, fosters the international collaboration that keeps information flowing, ensures that weather and ocean observations in one part of the world meaningfully inform forecasts in other parts of the world.
The Statements of Guidance were presented at webinar organized on 26 May.
They lay the basis for partner observing systems WIGOS, GOOS and GCOS, to reaffirm priorities, undertake new network design exercises, and give countries insight into their own design processes.
WMO and its partners will leverage this work in the future to ensure the observing networks and systems remain fit-for-purpose and evolve in tight step with user needs.
