Managing Meteorological and Oceanographic In Situ Data in the WMO Framework

Abstract

The chapter begins with the requirements for marine meteorological and oceanographic (meteo-ocean) data for WMO applications. The meteo-ocean observations are not only used for scientific research purposes, but also allow realizing socioeconomic benefits and addressing the needs of many activities such as the safety of life and property at sea, operations in the open and coastal ocean areas, the protection and sustainable development of the ocean and marine environment, numerical weather prediction and operational meteorology, the monitoring and prediction of seasonal-to-interannual climate variability and climate change, and the efficient management of marine resources. The chapter provides information on the processes used to assess gaps and to provide guidance and World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Member Countries and Territories to address the gaps and make the observing system evolve. The role of the WMO, collaborating with the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC), in making and collecting observations from and over the oceans is explained. In particular, implementation targets for various types of meteo-ocean observing platforms are detailed. The chapter then provides information on meteoceano data management in the WMO framework, including for the collection of data in real-time and delayed mode, quality control, collection of metadata, and feedback of quality information to the observing platform operators. The existing sources of meteo-ocean data are listed, and relevant data policies explained. Finally, the chapter gives information on how to access data and provides an incentive for sharing the data.