World Meteorological Day takes place every year on March 23. The convention of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), which came into force in 1950, was intended to provide more reliable forecasts through global weather reports. This year, World Weather Day takes place under the motto "On the front line of climate protection".
Historical background and objectives of the WMO
The"First International Meteorological Congress" held in Vienna in 1873 formed the basis for worldwide international cooperation between meteorological services in the International Meteorological Organization (IMO). The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) emerged from this organization on 23 March 1950. This was the beginning of a peaceful and international cooperation of meanwhile 193 members (179 states and 14 territories), in which weather and climate data continued to be exchanged even during wars or political crises. The objectives of the WMO were/are, among other things, the worldwide establishment of networks for meteorological, hydrological and geophysical observation, as well as the establishment of meteorological service providers, which, among other things, should facilitate the exchange of data. The standardization of measuring stations and the publication of measurement data is also important. In November 1988, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was established together with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The IPCC, also known as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, publishes so-called assessment reports every 5 to 8 years, in which various aspects of natural and man-made climate change are compiled from a scientific perspective. Today, the IPCC serves as the"gold standard" when it comes to climate research.
Fig. 1: WMO office building in Geneva; Source: WMO
At the pulse of the climate
Since the 1980s, every decade has been warmer than the previous one. 2023 was recorded as the hottestyear on record, with a global average temperature around 1.45°C above the average of 1850–1900. This was largely due to a combination of man-made climate change and the natural phenomenon El Niño.
As temperatures rise, so do more extreme weather events, including heatwaves, floods, droughts, forest fires and intensifying tropical cyclones. These events are accelerated by the excess energy in the atmosphere caused by record-breaking greenhouse gas emissions. Ocean warming is also reaching record levels and is expected to continue for hundreds or thousands of years. Ocean acidification is increasing and affecting marine ecosystems. Sea level rise has accelerated dramatically, posing an increasing threat to low-lying countries and coastal populations. Glaciers and ice sheets are melting, jeopardizing water security and vital ecosystems and exacerbating sea level rise. Sea ice is shrinking and permafrost is thawing, further increasing the potential for greenhouse gas emissions.
Fig. 2: Hurricane Otis shortly before it made landfall in Acapulco on October 25, 2023; Source: NOAA
World Weather Day 2024 under the motto "On the frontline of climate protection"
The WMO emphasizes the urgent need to tackle climate change, which is already having a significant impact and will have catastrophic consequences if immediate action is not taken. The theme of World Meteorological Day 2024 is"On the frontline of climate action". The work of the WMO and its partners is crucial to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and combating climate change. This work includes measures such as weather forecasting to increase food production, the integration of epidemiology and climate information to tackle disease-prone illness es, and the use of early warning systems to limit the impact of extreme weather events. Through scientific knowledge and services, the WMO supports adaptation to climate change and helps to create a safer and more resilient world for future generations.
Fig. 3: Banner of this year's World Weather Day; Source: WMO
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