World Meteorological Organization
Why in News?
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has warned that El Niño is firmly established and will intensify into a “very strong” event, with a near 100% likelihood of persisting through February 2027.
About WMO
- What it is: It is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN). It acts as the ultimate global voice on the state of the Earth's atmosphere, oceans, climate, and water resources.
- Origin: It grew out of the International Meteorological Organization (IMO), which was founded after the 1873 Vienna International Meteorological Congress.
- Establishment: It was officially established via the WMO Convention on 23 March 1950. This specific day is celebrated globally every year as World Meteorological Day.
- Headquarters: Located in Geneva, Switzerland.
- Membership: It has 193 Member States and Territories (including India).
- Current Leadership: Led by Secretary-General Celeste Saulo.
Organizational Structure
- World Meteorological Congress: This is the supreme body of the organization. It comprises representatives of all member states who meet every four years to decide on general policies, elect leadership, and adopt regulatory frameworks.
- Executive Council (EC): Composed of 36 members, this council meets annually to implement the policies and decisions made by the Congress.
- Secretariat: The administrative hub of the organization, consisting of a dedicated staff managing technical, scientific, and regional coordination.
- Regional Associations & Technical Commissions: Six regional bodies address specific regional concerns, while eight technical commissions govern specialized fields like agricultural meteorology, hydrology, and marine services.
Mandate & Key Functions
- Data Standardization & Exchange: The WMO ensures that meteorological data is systematically collected, formatted, and exchanged in real-time across national borders.
- Disaster Mitigation: It sets up and improves systems to track and warn nations about extreme hazards like cyclones, droughts, tornadoes, and severe floods.
- Sector Support: It translates climate data into actionable insights for critical global sectors, including agriculture, water management, aviation, and shipping.
- Environmental Monitoring: Beyond daily weather, the WMO tracks atmospheric composition, ozone depletion, greenhouse gas concentrations, and handles early warning models for sudden hazards like volcanic ash and toxic nuclear plumes.
