Report on the WMO 58th Executive Council, June 2006
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HMEI Report on
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) 58th Executive Council
20 June to 30 June 2006, Geneva, Switzerland

The HMEI Executive Secretary, Bruce Sumner and Christine Charstone, HMEI Administrator, represented HMEI the 59th EC meeting. This report focuses on items the HMEI Executive Secretary found of particular interest for HMEI members and is not intended to be definitive.

The official WMO report of the meeting will have a link here as soon as it becomes available. 

WMO 58th Executive Council
The WMO President and the WMO Secretary-General opened the session, and made reference to activities during the past 12 months.

Doc. 2.1 WMO President’s Report
EC was advised that Technical Commission meetings had been held in the last 12 months, and that the following people were elected to these Commissions:

        JCOMM – Peter Dexter and Jean-Louis Fellous (Co Presidents)

        CCl – Pierre Bessemoulin (President) and Wang Shourong (Vice-President)

        CAS – Michel Béland (President) and Alexander Frolov (Vice-President)

Doc. 2.2 WMO Secretary General’s Report
The Secretary General, Mr Jarruad, noted several areas of expansion and development in WMO. Noted below are those of possible interest to HMEI members.

Crosscutting Issues
  Observations:
Significant increases in observations were a positive improvement following the stable position last year. Observing networks in all areas are increasing.
  Space Programme:
This is now well established. Most recently a new Center of Excellence (CoE) was set up in Oman and another is about to be implemented in Argentina.
  GEOSS:
WMO was and is actively involved in the preparation of the 10-year Implementation Plan of GEOSS and the work plans for2005 and 2006. A considerable number of GEO tasks are based on, or supported by, WMO programmes.
  Hydrology:
Hydrological observations are now being extended in all continents of the world.
  Disaster Mitigation:
WMO is now recognized as a lead agency. WMO is now a Co-Chair of the ISDR Working Group to guide the Global Early Warning Survey. Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) and WMO in close cooperation. The WMO GTS has been established as the backbone telecommunication mechanism for tsunami related information.
  Programme for Least Developed Countries:
In, particularly, least developed countries in Africa, the Pacific and the Caribbean, WMO is involved with a wide range of projects, including those concerned with instrumentation and training.

Research
Thorpex in 2005 entered its implementation phase. In 2006 work towards integration of the THORPEX Ground Global Ensemble will continue to be open for access in 2007.
 Other World Weather Research Programme (WWRP) projects were successfully completed and progress has been made on several other projects.
 International Polar Year (IPY) 2007-8:
The preparation and implementation of this event is progressing well.  The Joint Committee for IPY has established Sub-committees on Observations; Data Policy and Management and Education; Outreach and Communications.

Applications
 WMO is heavily involved in training and capacity building in all areas.
  Aviation: 
Humidity sensors are now to be part of the AMDAR package on aircraft.
  Agriculture: 
WMO is co-operating actively with the World Bank and the World Food Programme on a pilot project in Ethiopia Drought Insurance, based on weather derivatives, and has an emphasis on agrometeorological application for increase/sustained agricultural productivity.

Water Resources
 During 2005 there were 4 Flood Forecasting Workshops and 1 Conference.  
  WMO promotes Integrated Flood Management through its Associated Programme on Flood Management (APFM).
  Increased emphasis is being given standardization and quality control.
  The preparations of the 6th Ed. of the Guide to Hydrological Practices are progressing on schedule and work on the updating/preparation of 4 other Hydrological WMO Manuals.

Capacity Building
  Education and Training:
Emphasis was placed on WMO’s continuing and considerable involvement in this area.
  Technical Cooperation:
WMO continues and expands its technical cooperation with Member countries that need such support. Support to Haiti, Pakistan and Indian Ocean countries affected by the 2004 tsunamis, were particularly mentioned.
  WMO is expanding its cooperation with the World Bank. WMO is also developing and strengthening its cooperation with other organizations and funding agencies in support of initiatives of NMHSs in various parts of the world.

Reform of the Secretariat
  Several new measures were reported on, including the strengthening of the procurement processes. Multiple tendering was strongly emphasised. Significant progress has been made on developing a WMO Code of Ethics for staff. Mandatory disclosure of interests has been introduced for senior WMO staff or staff in critical positions in regard to procurements and funding of training.
See the full report of the Secretary General here.

Doc 2.3(1) Reports by the Presidents of the Regional Associations
 The delegate from RAI noted that there is a need, in that Region, for upgrading the ability to carry out instrument maintenance.
 A Proton Generator was installed in Guyana. Thanks to USA and NOAA.
 There was a call to continue the supply of upper-air consumables, including radiosondes, for the developing countries with funding help from WMO.
Technical Cooperation Programme:
 The GCOS reactivation project was commended, but Africa needs to have more hydrogen generators installed, so as to ensure the continuation of the long-term upper-air programme.
 The transfer of the African Regional Office from Geneva to Africa is proposed.

Doc. 3.1.1 WWW Basic Systems and Support Functions; The Report of the President of CBS
It was noted that there had been no loss of network observations as a result of the replacement of the RS80 Radiosonde.  

Doc. 3.1.2 Instruments and Methods of Observation Programme; The in-depth Report of the President of Cimo
Major Achievements 2006:
 Standardization
 Capacity Building and Training

First International Intercomparison of RI Gauges:
 19 pairs of gauges involved. 
 Unique results were achieved and these have been published. 

Intercomparison of High Quality Radiosondes:
 Several manufacturers' instruments met the level of results required by CIMO, GEOS and were suitable for international use
 Results have been published.

IPVC-X Davos:
 89 Pyrheliometers were calibrated over 11 days.

CIMO Guide No. 7:
 This was published in May 2006.
 Final approval will be given at CIMO-XIV

Regional Instrument Centres (RICs):
 There are now 15 of these, two new ones were established in Ljubljana, Slovenia and Bratislava, Slovakia.
 WMO carried out evaluation visits to RICs.

Upper- Air Training Workshop in Buenos Aires:
Thanks were extended to HMEI for its help at the Training Workshop

The Executive Council announced awards as follows:
The 20th Professor Dr. Vilho Väisälä Award for an Outstanding Research Paper on Instruments and Methods of Observation:
 was awarded to Mr J. P. Pichamuthu (India) should receive the twentieth Professor Dr Vilho Väisälä Award for an Outstanding Research Paper on Instruments and Methods of Observation for the paper entitled “Directional variation of visual range due to anisotropic atmospheric brightness” published in .Applied Optics, Volume 44, No. 8, 1464 – 1468, March 2005.
The first Professor Dr Vilho Väisälä Award for the Development and Implementation of the Instruments and Methods of Observation was awarded to Messrs J. Nash, R. Smout, M. Smees (all from the United Kingdom) and C. Bower (USA) for the paper entitled “Dar-es-Salaam demonstration test of IMS 1600 Integrated Upper Air System, Dar-es-Salaam, 18-30 October 2004” published in IOM Report No .82, TD-1267,  May 2005. This was in regard to the InterMet system TD 1082 demonstrated in Dar-es-Salaam. This award will be presented at TECO in December in Geneva.

HMEI and the World Meteorological Instrument Catalogue:
In point 3.1.2.2 (e) of the Draft text for inclusion in the General Summary of EC-VIII, it is was stated: "[the WMO Executive Council:] Requested CIMO to collaborate with the Hydro-Meteorological Equipment Industry Association in preparations of the future versions of the World Meteorological Instrument Catalogue."

Comments from the floor:
 A Problem with the use of Mercury in meteorological instruments was noted. The Health issues this raises led to the comment that the use of Automated Systems could be preferable for the health of users.
 Health and safety issues associated with Hydrogen generators were also mentioned. It was suggested that manufacturers of these products could take measures to make this equipment safer.
 A request for more upper-air training workshops, such as that held in Buenos Aires was requested.
 More Calibration and Intercomparisons for AWSs in Tropical Regions was requested.
 It was pointed out that, with the increase in severe weather events, especially hurricanes and high winds, there was a need for manufacturers to ensure instrumentation would be robust enough to withstand these increasingly ferocious conditions.
 Similarly to the above point, the increasing severe weather events meant that some instrumentation was not recording the extremes of meteorological phenomenon. In particular Pressure Sensors were mentioned, as some weather events now created conditions where the pressure dropped below 800hpa although most Pressure Sensors do not record below this level. 

Comments on the Report from HMEI Executive Secretary:
 The HMEI Executive Secretary, Mr. Sumner,  thanked the Chairman for this most informative Report. He expressed the continued willingness of HMEI to cooperate with WMO in its Intercomparisons, noting that Intercomparisons provided reciprocal benefits for both WMO and the manufacturers.
 Mr. Sumner also expressed HMEI's willingness to continue cooperation with WMO training workshops in the Least Developed and Developing Countries.
 Mr Sumner also addressed the health and safety issues raised by WMO Members in regard to use of Mercury and the point about use of AWSs.. He said that these comments would be passed to HMEI Member Manufactures for their information. 
 In regard to the issue raised about Hydrogen generators, the Executive Secretary said that he would also pass this comment to HMEI Members. However he pointed out that further upper-air training with manufacturers, such as that carried out in Buenos Aires, was essential in order to ensure that Hydrogen generators were used in a safe manner, as many of the safety problems can arise from incorrect use of such equipment. 

Responses to comments from the floor by Dr Ray Canterford, President CIMO:
 The President noted that HMEI, which CIMO had helped to foster in the beginning of its formation, had now become a "big player" in the Hydrological and Meteorological area. 
 He also said that CIMO could not do its Intercomparisons without HMEI. 
 He commented that the Intercomparison of High Quality Radiosondes had demonstrated there was now a "mature market" in the field of Radiosondes with good multiple choices of these instruments now available.

Doc. 3.1.4 WMO Quality Management
 The WMO is now very enthusiastic about good quality management and recommending this to its members as the best practice way to proceed. WMO is now working with ISO in regard to standards and quality management. It was expressed that the WMO manuals will be a strong part of quality management. The less developed and developing countries generally expressed that they found quality management and ISO linked standards and WMO manuals reflecting this are helpful for them.

Doc. 3.2.1 Climate Coordination Activities; the Report of the EC Advisory Group on Climate and Environment (EC-AGCE)
 EC-AGCE is planning the 3rd World Climate Conference (WCC-3). This is tentatively scheduled for 2009.
WCC-1 was held in 1990 and WCC-2 was held in 1997.
 A provisional advisory committee has been set up to organize WCC-3. They have set an agenda, scientific activities and have formulated a preliminary budget. The conference will have a theme focusing on seasonal to inter-annual prediction for decision making. 

Doc. 3.2.2 World Climate Programme
 The WMO Commission for Climatology is creating a webpage that will have information, meetings, documents and reports available from it.
 Four new OPAGs have been set up that replace the previous ones.
 A new revision of Climatological Practices, the 3rd edition, is being drafted and is almost finished. It will be published 2007. A draft is planned for Congress next year.
 A prime activity of CCl is specifying observing requirements, which will be done in collaboration with GECOS, CBS and WWW.

Doc. 3.2.3 Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) 
Achievements 2005:
 18 GUAN stations were revitalised, with hydrogen generators and/or consumables and upper-air equipment. 
 CBS lead centres established in Japan, Australia, Iran. USA and Morocco.

Future Plans:
 GUAN & GSN system improvements will e continued, depending on funding.
 Design of the Global Upper-Air Reference Network that will consist of 20-30 stations. This design was an outcome of the Seattle Climate Requirements Workshop.

Doc, 3.4.2 Agricultural Meteorological Programme: including the in-depth Report of the President of CAgM
 The CAgM website, www.wmo.int/web/wcp/agm/agmp.html has been upgraded.
 The revised Guide to Agricultural Practices will be published in 2008. Several draft chapters are currently on the WMO website at: www.wmo.int/web/wcp/agm/RevGAMP/RevGAMP.htm
 The President of CAgM, Ray Motha is leaving in November, after 8 years of service.
A new ET has been proposed; the Expert Team on Real Time Chemical Data.
A Technical Conference will be held immediately preceding the CAgM session in New Delhi, India in November (further details are on the International Meetings and Exhibition sections of the HMEI website).

Doc. 3.4.3 Aeronautical Meteorology Programme: including the in-depth Report of the President of CAeM
 Training for Aeronautical Meteorology is being facilities by the new website at: www.caem.wmo.int that CAeM is currently developing.
The new structure of 3 OPAGS for CAeM was presented.
The President, Dr. Neil Gordon, will stand down at the next Commission session in November, after 8 years in the position 
The next CAeM and a Technical Conference will be held in Geneva in November (further details are on the International Meetings and Exhibition sections of the HMEI website).

Doc. 3.4.4 Marine Meteorology & Oceanography Programme; the Report of the Co-Presidents of JCOMM; & the 2nd Session of the Joint WMO/IOC Technical Commission on Oceanography & Marine Meteorology
 There will be bulk purchase of consumables during the following intersessional period.
One of JCOMM's priorities for 2006-2009 is to develop its engagement with the Private Sector.

HMEI comment to JCOMM:
 The Executive Secretary of HMEI, Bruce Sumner, stated that HMEI, as a current representative of the Private Sector, and already working with WMO in this capacity, would be pleased to work with JCOMM and provide a first point of contact for JCOMM to the Private Sector. HMEI informed JCOMM that it was able to provide links to and facilitate cooperation with manufacturers' of instrumentation, systems and services for Oceanographic use. 

Doc. 3.5.1 Hydrology and Water Resources Programme; The Report of the President of CHy
The President of CHy noted that HMEI instrument manufacturers had provided important input to the Costa Rica Workshop. The cooperation of CIMO and HMEI with CHy was acknowledged with appreciation.

Future Activities:
Intercomparison projects such as for: Hydrological Instrumentation Systems (HIS); and Streamflow Movement Instruments
International conference on Hydrometry, planned for November 2007 and to be held in Brazil.
Synthesis Workshop planned for later this year or early next year. This will include Demonstration Projects and consolidation of the Regional Workshop results. 
There was a suggestion for Regional Hydrology Centres to also run workshops, however the question of funding such workshops remains.

Doc. 3.6 Education and Training Programme
 There was a proposal that WMO Meteorological Training Centres, be renamed as WMO Training Centres or WMO Hydrological-Meteorological Training Centre and that they include training for Hydrology. 

Doc. 3.8(1) Regional Programme, Including the Reports of the 14th Session of RAV (South-West Pacific) & the 14th Session of RAVI (Europe)
Regional Cooperation Aim:
Assist PR's to coordinate technical development with other members, organizations, etc.
A report on the RCD Development Project was presented by Prof. Taalas. The report stressed the necessity of strengthening links between funding agencies, NMHSs and other organizations. HMEI will seek to be involved and input technical information.

Doc 7.3 WMO Programme for the Least Developed Countries (LDCs)
 The Council noted that the Brussels Programme of Action (BPoA) for the LDCs for the decade 2001-2010 is based on the international development goals, targets and actions by LDCs and commensurate support measures by their development partners, and on the values, principles and objectives that are incorporated into seven commitments addressing the particular problems facing the LDCs.  The Council further recalled that the Fourteenth World Meteorological Congress, in May 2003, established the WMO Programme for the LDCs with the main objective of improving the capacities of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) of the LDCs to contribute effectively to the sustainable development of the respective countries, especially in poverty reduction, disaster prevention and mitigation, food security, energy and water resources management, environmental monitoring and protection, among others.

 Respective technical commissions to continue to give special attention to the needs and requirements of the LDCs in the implementation of the scientific and technical programmes as appropriate.

 Council requested the Secretary-General to take appropriate measures to enhance the effectiveness of the Programme through the implementation of specific value-added actions, in addition to those already being undertaken by the various Technical and Scientific Programmes of WMO.  
 These have been:
(a)   Development of community approach to Flood Management, implementation of HYCOS projects, and organization of workshops on groundwater management;  
(b)   Development and implementation of projects on website development for NMHSs of LDCs initiated in cooperation with the Hong Kong Observatory;  
(c)   Organization of workshops on public weather services, instrumentation, aviation and cost recovery;  
(d)   Provision of climate data rescue equipment to 23 LDCs;  
(e)   Support for the development of GAW stations;  
(f)     Award of fellowships;  
(g)   Support for the participation of experts from LDCs in WMO and other related meetings;  
(h)   Development of projects to support NMHSs of LDCs affected by the December 2004, Indian Ocean Tsunami.  

Informal meeting of the President for Hydrology with Hydrological Advisers, held Wednesday, 21 June 2006
 This informal meeting was held during the period of the WMO Executive Council in Geneva. The HMEI Executive Secretary, Bruce Sumner, attended the meeting. which covered various aspects of the Commission for Hydrology. Bruce was able to suggest various ways that HMEI could be interactive with this Commission, to the benefit of both WMO and HMEI.