Potential role of WMO in Space Weather Jerome LAFEUILLE WMO Space Programme Office World Meteorological Organization Geneva

2 5th European Space Weather Week, Brussels, November 2008 Outline 1.WMO in brief 2.Relevance of Space Weather for WMO 3.Council decision to involve WMO in Space Weather activities

3 5th European Space Weather Week, Brussels, November 2008 World Meteorological Organization in brief Specialized organization of the United Nations for Weather, Water and related Climate issues 188 Members (states or territories) grouped in 6 Regions Secretariat in Geneva Governing bodies Congress, Executive Council, Regional Associations Technical Commissions –Commission for Basic Systems (CBS) –Commissions for Instruments and Methods of Observation (CIMO) –for Atmospheric Sciences (CAS), Climatology (CCl), Hydrology (CHy) –for Aeronautical Meteorology (CAeM), Agricultural Meteorology (CAgM) –Joint Commission for Oceanography & Marine Meteorology (JCOMM)

4 5th European Space Weather Week, Brussels, November 2008 Core activity of WMO Coordination of observation, data exchange, modelling, warning and forecasting services –WMO Integrated Global Observing Systems (WIGOS) –WMO Information Systems ( WIS) Cooperation and capacity building Applications  Routine weather forecasting  Hydro-meteorological disasters or severe weather warning  Meteorological support to aviation, marine, agriculture, energy  Climate monitoring and forecasting  Water resource management and flood forecasting

5 5th European Space Weather Week, Brussels, November 2008 Space Weather: a new domain for WMO Effects of solar eruptive events on the near-Earth environment Solar radiation storms, high-energy particles (protons) Ionospheric and geomagnetic storms Radio black-outs by X-Ray photons

6 5th European Space Weather Week, Brussels, November 2008 Relevance to WMO activities Impacts on satellites and radio communications, major operational meteorological infrastructure  Increasing need to monitor and manage this risk (RUSSIAN FEDERATION)

7 5th European Space Weather Week, Brussels, November 2008 Relevance to WMO activities Impacts on satellites and radio communications, major operational meteorological infrastructure  Increasing need to monitor and manage this risk Emerging capability to issue operational Space Weather warnings avoiding losses to aviation, telecom, satellite-based positioning, energy distribution  Opportunity for an active role of WMO in synergy with delivery of meteorological services

8 5th European Space Weather Week, Brussels, November 2008 Institutional aspects No United Nations Organization is specifically in charge of Space Weather operational coordination Space Weather community (ISES) asked for support from WMO Several National Meteorological Services have responsibility in Space Weather WMO has strong interaction with partners such as ITU and ICAO  WMO could play a useful role to support international coordination in Space Weather

9 5th European Space Weather Week, Brussels, November 2008 In response to WMO Congress and “Consultative Meeting” on space policy Drafted in cooperation with ISES (April 2008) Describes economic impact Potential scope, cost and benefit of WMO coordination Analysis suggests high benefit / cost Preliminary report Potential role of WMO in Space Weather Refdocuments.html#SpaceWeather

10 5th European Space Weather Week, Brussels, November th Council (June 2008) (1/2) Endorsed the principle of WMO activities in support of international coordination in Space Weather Space Weather beyond core business of WMO, shall be funded by external resources Opportunity to strengthen link between National Meteorological Services and Space Weather services (when different) Work plans to be developed by Commission for Basic Systems (CBS) and Commission for Aeronautical Meteorology (CAeM) Cooperation with ISES, UN-COPUOS, ICAO, ITU, IMO

11 5th European Space Weather Week, Brussels, November th Council (June 2008) (2/2) Agreed that WMO should focus on: Harmonization of observation within the WIGOS Definition of products in interaction with major users Data exchange and product delivery through the WIS Issuance of warnings in a multi-hazard approach Encouraging dialogue between research and operational communities.

12 5th European Space Weather Week, Brussels, November 2008 Immediate Steps Mobilize WMO Members, primarily where Space Weather is addressed by the NMHS Identify extra-budgetary resources with ISES Member countries for Secretariat activities –Financial, –Secondment of staff (NOAA made an offer) Inform international partners and establish p.o.c. –COPUOS, ICAO, ITU, IMO Establish joint Commission (CAeM and CBS) to develop work plan in consultation with relevant organisations (primarily ISES)

13 5th European Space Weather Week, Brussels, November 2008 Thank you !

14 5th European Space Weather Week, Brussels, November 2008 Potential scope of WMO’s support Space Weather observation in WIGOS Space Weather data exchange through WIS Space Weather warning and product delivery Possibly integrated with meteorological/hazard warnings Interaction with operational user communities Effects of Solar activity on climate  Partnership with ISES, UN-COPUOS, ICAO, ITU, IMO

15 5th European Space Weather Week, Brussels, November 2008 WMO Programmes World Weather Watch Programme World Weather Watch Programme WMO Space Programme Disaster Risk Reduction Programme Education and Training Programme Technical Cooperation Programme Regional Programme WorldClimateProgramme AtmosphericResearchandEnvironmentProgramme ApplicationsofMeteorologyProgramme HydrologyandWaterResourcesProgramme …and WMO-co-sponsored Programmes (e.g. GCOS)