TECO-2008 Paper 1(17) Role of Voluntary Consensus Standards in International Standardization and Comparability of Meteorological Observing Systems 27 November 2008

Paul M. Fransioli, CCM, FRMetS Kleinfelder, Inc. DING Haifang China Meteorological Administration

3 Purposes Acquaint you with international voluntary consensus Standards in meteorology Explain the relationship between WMO and the ISO meteorology subcommittee Motivate technical experts to participate in the Standards development process

4 Voluntary Consensus Standards ARE: Voluntary (choice) Consensus (jointly agree) Standards (documents developed and maintained by rigorous process) ARE NOT: Mandatory (regulated) Single source Standardization (general term for uniform methods)

5 Why Use Standards? Improve compatibility of observations by: Providing common terms and testing methods as basis for procurement and descriptive specifications Establishing common bases for evaluation protocols and guidance on observation methods

6 Organizations with Meteorology Standards International Organization for Standardization (ISO): TC146 / SC5: 3 active standards Technical experts are delegated representatives of national Standards bodies 12 Participating countries, 11 Observing countries ASTM International: D22.11: 13 active standards Multi-national subcommittee members may vote, non-members may participate Some countries have national meteorology standards, including Canada, China, France, Germany, Great Britain, Japan and others

7 History of WMO and ISO TC146 / SC5 WMO granted consultative status to ISO in 1954, helped to form ISO TC146 / SC5, and holds Liaison status with ISO Some CIMO experts also participate in SC5 through national standards bodies

8 New Working Agreement Between WMO and ISO ISO Council Resolution 43/2007 and the September 2008 Working Agreement between WMO and ISO encourages cooperation. WMO publications in the scope of five ISO Technical Committees (TC) can be submitted for vote as enquiry drafts through the TC or Subcommittee (SC) TC146 / SC5 (meteorology), TC147 (water quality), TC113 (hydrometry), TC 180 / SC1 (solar energy), TC211 (GIS).

9 Observations on Working Agreement by TC146 / SC5 Members meeting in October 2008 agreed to help implement the Agreement Continue developing Standards, with participation by equipment manufacturers, that establish acceptable methods of testing instrument characteristics and performance Pursue Standards that utilize applications of emerging technology such as Lidar Encourage reference in CIMO Guide No. 8 calibration sections to SC5 Standards as testing bases

10 You can make a difference Participate in ISO work through your national meteorological and/or standards organizations Contact TC146 / SC5: Chair: Rodica Nitu Secretary: Paul Fransioli Ding Haifang Technical Committee 146, Subcommittee 5 (Meteorology)