There was some consideration from the report of the Task Team on the GFCS, that WMO may not take as high a leading role in the new UN "Delivering as One" initiative on climate change activities as had been seen previously.

• Several WMO Members urged the WMO to continue to take a lead role on climate activities within the UN System.
• The CIMO President, Dr Nash, emphasises the important role of CIMO and instruments in climate forecasting especially in light of the work that CIMO has achieved and is achieving already in Intercomparisons of instruments of higher quality suitable for Climate forecasting.
• HMEI made a statement its support for WMO in Climate activates in that: HMEI sees liaison with WMO is the best means of communicating the user needs for climate observations to the private industry; that this dissemination of needs and the work that HMEI is involved in with WMO Intercomparisons, is the strongest way for standards for instruments for use in climate parameters measurements to be ensured.

Enhanced Capabilities for WMO Members to Provide Better Weather Forecasts & Warnings - Doc 3.1 (see document here)
This document discusses many operational activities with the WMO including:

• the Severe Weather Forecasting Demonstration Project (SWFDP);
• ensemble-based probabilistic guidance to improve tropical cyclone forecasting;
• new warning products for aviation, including the establishment of Regional Centres to coordinate the issuances of SIGMET and AIRMET.

Other points discussed from this document were:

• Enhanced support to operational marine meteorological forecasting including forecasting extreme wave events and implementation of operational specialized numerical prediction systems on ocean waves, storm surge, sea ice, and marine pollution transport.
• The need for enhanced interaction between Tropical Cyclone operational forecasters and researchers to improve improvement of forecasting tropical cyclone intensities, associated heavy rainfall and storm surge, as well as seasonal frequency of tropical cyclones.
• The European Operational Programme for the Exchange of Weather Radar Data Information (OPERA) to provide a basis for international standards for the exchange of radar data and to enable their use in prediction systems.
• The Council requested the Nowcasting Working Group of the WWRP to explore possibilities of applying the OPERA technological concept in other regions. It was mentioned that for this to occur, radar networks would need to be enhanced in many countries, particularly in developing countries.

The inclusion of weather radar information into forecasting models was noted as a major scientific improvement.

The safety issues involved in forecasting, particularly aviation forecasting, improvements needed in convection turbulence forecasting and lightning forecasting, was emphasised as a vital issue to be addressed. This particularly in light of the recent Air France aircraft disappearance over the Atlantic in June 2009.

Enhanced Capabilities for WMO Members to Provide Better Hydrological Forecasts & Assessments - Doc 3.3 (see document here)
The Commission for Hydrology (CHY.XIII) in October 2008 adopted the following four thematic areas as a priority for its work in the next intersessional period:

• Quality Management Framework – Hydrology (QMF–Hydrology);
• Water Resources Assessment;
• Hydrological Forecasting and Prediction;
• Water, Climate and Risk Management.

Some comments from the floor of the meeting:

• There is a need for New Techniques and Instruments for prediction, both seasonally and annually, in  desert areas for both drought and soil moisture.
• It was commented that WMO needs to work more closely with UNESCO on hydrological issues.
• The South African member saw more WMO support for Flash Flood forecasting guidance as essential.

Integration of WMO Observing Systems - Doc. 3.4 (see document here)

Dr Weng Zhou made a presentation on the WMO Integrated Global Observation System (WIGOS)
The Background to WIGOS was presented, and how it will improve integration of observation, systems and services. Several WIGOS Pilot Projects are underway. WIGOS will strengthen standards, guidelines and practices. Improved observations and improved data utilization is the aim of WIGOS.
 
Document 3.4 fully outlines these projects as well as the areas and systems that WIGOS will bring together.

Points to note:

• A “Revised Functional Specification for AWS” was endorsed. It was also noted that CBS approved the “Basic Set of variables to be reported by a Standard AWS for Multiple Users”.
• It was reported that a Manual on Instruments and Methods of Observation will be developed to improve homogeneity and comparability of observation. This will be an Annex to the WMO Technical Regulations.
• the new "Vision for GOS (the Global Observing Sytems) in 2025", which expands GOS to include more observations, for example such as those to support the production of Essential Climate Variables, adhering to the GCOS climate monitoring principles, the WMO Integrated Observing System will go beyond the World Weather Watch (WWW). (Note: the text of the "Vision for the GOS in 2025" is available in document 3.4, as linked above.)

Dr Fred Branski, CBS President, made a presentation on the WMO Integrated Global Observation System (WIGOS)
This presentation clarified that whilst WIS is concerned with dissemination of data including metadata, WIGOS is concerned with the creation of observations and the management of the quality and availability of data.

The presentation noted that WIGOS is not necessarily about new systems, often it is about better utilization of existing systems, specially through good metadata. WIGOS will affect instrumentation in that it will look for improved standards and good metadata.

Dr Branski noted that whereas WIS is well founded now, having been started some years in advance of WIGOS, he could not see WIGOS being able to achieved further progress, to match the WIS level, under the current funding.

Short address by Dr Nash President of CIMO
Dr Nash noted that the standardization of instruments did not  make all instruments the same, rather it was a method of knowing the deviation of instruments' data output and recoding this for the data users to access. Dr Nash also noted that the quality of data currently coming from instruments was often not of know quality and standards. Therefore,  especially in light of climate observational requirements, there was a need to address this issue with sufficient funding to investigate and establish the quality and standards of instrumentation.

Some items from discussion by meeting:

• Although there is satellite data on the oceans, there is not enough in-situ ocean data.
• It was noted that, for developing countries, the high costs of upgrading equipment (for instance Upper-air Systems) for the WIGOS requirements, necessitated support for these countries from other WMO Members or other sources.

Development and Implementation of the new WMO Information System (WIS) Doc. 3.5 - (see document here)
It was recalled that WIS is a result of the WMO decision taken in 1993 to create an integrated communications management system. Some points of interest are:

• WIS provides more functionality than is possible with the current GTS.
• WIS is on brink of becoming operational.
• The Technical Conference that will precede CBS in 2010 will focus on WIS.
• Coordination with WIGOS is considered crucial to the successful implementation of WIS.

A list of potential Global Information Service Center (GISC) and Data Collection and Product Centre (DCPC) centres within the WIS concept is provided in the Progress Activity Report in document 3.5 linked above. There are 13 GISCs and 94 DCPSs nominated. A plan has been developed to review these potential centres and to finalise a final list of centres.

The WIS Project and Implementation Plan (WPIP), the WIS Functional Architecture, and the WIS Compliance Specifications for GISC, DCPC and National Centers (NC) were discussed and it was decided that they should continue to be developed further. The WIS Functional Architecture and the WIS Compliance Specifications for GISC, DCPC and NC were considered as important building blocks towards the future Manual on WIS.

Available documents are posted on the WMO Web server as follows:
Overview of WIS Project and Implementation plan (http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/www/WIS/documents/Overview-v1.doc) (70kb doc.)
WIS Project & Implementation Plan (http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/www/WIS/documents/WIS-ProjectPlan-v1-0.doc) (1.8kb doc.)
WIS Functional Architecture (http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/www/WIS/documents/WIS-FuncArch-v1-0.doc) (1.1kb doc.)
WIS Compliance Specifications GISC, DCPC,NC (http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/www/WIS/documents/TechnicalSpecification1-1.doc) (1.3kb doc.)
Designation Procedures for GISC and DCPC (http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/www/WIS/documents/DesignationProcedures4GISCandDCPC.doc) (doc 50kb)
WIS User Requirements (http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/www/WIS/documents/WIS-RRR-v0-4.doc) (0.4kb doc.)
Guidelines on WIS (http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/www/TEM/ET-WISC-III/documents/ET-WISC-Doc-3-2-3-5.doc ) (520kb doc.)

New documents on WIS as they become available are available from: http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/www/WIS/ref_docs_en.html

Dr Branski the President CBS added some further comments:

• WIS and WIGOS are important and foundational enterprises for WMO;
• The importance of fully merging WIGOS operational functionalities into the WIS single system was stressed;
• Much work needs still to be done in data retrieval.

• Identification and prioritization of hazards affecting WMO Members and NMHS ability to monitor, archive and provide hazard information;
• Identification of the national policies and legislation in disaster risk management and reflection of the role of the NMHS;
• Observational network and institutional capacities for monitoring, detecting and forecasting of hazards;
• Technical capacity and needs of the NMHS in areas such as hazard analysis and early warning systems to support different components of disaster risk management;
• Extent of partnerships and concept of operations between the NMHS and their partners in disaster risk management.

The EC re-affirmed that sea level observations are critical for enhancing storm surge forecasting. The EC therefore requested that efforts be made, by all concerned, to ensure that in situ and remote sensed sea level observations are routinely collected and disseminated via the GTS. It requested JCOMM to continue supporting activities for extending the network of sea level measuring gauges, as well as increasing the umber of those reporting in real-time, and other sea level observing techniques. It was noted that proper warnings of sea level rise, storm surges and extreme wave events require adequate observations, and that in many parts of the world such observations are not available and that increasing the number of installed instruments would help reduce the risks from these types of events.

John Nash commented that improving instrument quality is an obvious prerequisite to making improvements to the disaster risk reduction programme.

ENHANCED CAPABILITIES OF MEMBERS TO PROVIDE & USE WEATHER, CLIMATE, WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL APPLICATIONS & SERVICES
- Doc.4.2 (see document here)

Strategic Thrust: Service Delivery
WMO is enhancing the means for service delivery from all components of WMO, especially disaster risk reduction capabilities. A new service delivery framework is being developed to ensure this outcome.

WMO wishes to arrange cooperation between itself and the commercial service providers and commercial information dissemination providers. It was noted that contact with this part of the private sector is often nationally based, and that it will be quite difficult to develop detailed guidelines on how cooperation could be developed. Assistance will be needed from the WMO Secretariat to develop these mechanisms.

Points of note from the document:

Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)
Dr Hayes the EC Working Group on Disaster Risk Reduction and Service Delivery Chairman,  presented this part of the document looking at the way to increase service delivery specifically for DRR, how to best enable MNHs to this end, in cooperation with countries' Disaster Management programs, and ways to cooperate with the WMO Water ,Weather and Climate areas.

Cooperation with the Private Sector - Doc. 4.2 Add 1 (see document here)
The HMEI Executive Secretary made a statement to the EC meeting regarding HMEI continued cooperation with WMO and offering HMEI cooperation similarly to the individual NMHs. See HMEI statement here.

ENHANCED CAPABILITIES OF NMHSs IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, PARTICULARLY LDC, TO FULFIL THEIR MANDATES - Doc. 6.1 (see document here)
The document looks at the capacity building initiatives that WMO is involved with particularly for LDCs and the support for such measures.

It was noted that the GUAN upper air stations are considered to be needed for “better public good”, and that they should be funded as much as possible with help from VCP and from other Members. The funding would be for stations upgrades and for continuing provision of consumables.

It was mentioned that quality should not be overlooked when purchases of equipment are made from the VCP and other Trust Funds, as cheaper equipment could often fail just when the data is really needed. It was also noted that maintenance should not be overlooked when providing equipment from the VCP Trust Fund.

An intervention by Dr Nash from CIMO emphasised again the need to not cut cost of instrumentation when it compromised the value and reliability of the resulting data. The meeting noted and accepted this comment as a very important that NMHSs should recognise.

Strategic partnerships and major development projects
Those underway are outlined in the Progress/Activity Report of document 6.1, some summarized examples are:

• The 1st Phase of the joint initiative with the World Bank/UNISDR/WMO (with the support of Finland) for South Eastern Europe has led to assessments which have resulted in WB loans for investment in Hydro-Meteorology for Albania, Croatia, Montenegro, Moldova, and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
• Similarly Phase 1 Assessment has begun for Central Asia and Caucuses Region funded by the WB GFDRR and others.
• Development activity is under discussion for South East Asia and Pacific Region.
• Capacity development and operational activities have been the focus of the Programme of Cooperation for the Ibero-American countries;
• A Spanish Programme of Cooperation with West African countries has started;
• Spain is supporting SDS and GAW projects in Northern Africa.

The Appendix also details developments and partnership "in the pipeline", to summarize:

• Development projects for the NMHSs of Panama, Costa Rica and El Salvador, prepared during 2008 under the Programme of Cooperation for Ibero-American NMHSs;
• Development projects for the NMHSs of Honduras, Nicaragua, Ecuador, Paraguay and Uruguay;
• Capacity building support to NMHSs of the Great Caribbean in partnership with the Association of Caribbean States;
• Discussions with Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) for development of a cooperation programme with concrete activities in support to common
  Members in the Americas region in the areas of climate change and natural disasters, and climate and water.

VCP Equipment and Services Programme (VCP(ES))
In 2008, four donor Members and four private companies offered equipment and or expert services within the framework of the (VCP(ES)):

• Observation equipment to Uzbekistan (Wind Vane/Anemometer ) by Koshin Denki Kogyo of Japan (cir 2007);
• BRON Ltd., SGI, Slovenia support to the Centre for Monitoring and Prognostication of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Georgia through provision of an 8 or 16-bit processor SGI computer to support the Numerical Weather Predictions (NWP) operations (cir 2007);
• Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (CHMI) support to Cyprus for provision and installation of CLIDATA Database System and associated training (cir 2007);
• GPS upper-air observing system to Dept. of Meteorology, Sri Lanka including installation of the system and on-site training (cir 2007);
• Myanmar Automatic Weather Station (Meisei Electric Co. Ltd) (cir 2007);
• Balloons (TOTEX), Sri Lanka, Maldives, Armenia (cir 2007);
• Mauritius – Provision of 400 radiosondes by KNMI (cir 2007);
• Belarus – Provision of workstation by Russian Federation.

Strategic partnerships and major development projects  - Private Sector
Item 5.2 of the Progress/Activity Report of document 6.1 noted The Global Humanitarian Fund Project for Africa initiative. HMEI has been involved with this project since the inception of the buying of instrumentation stage. As HMEI members are aware the contract to produce the pilot AWSs was won by HMEI member manufacture Fairmont Weather Systems.

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL STATEMENT ON ROLE AND OPERATION OF NATIONAL METEOROLOGICAL AND HYDROLOGICAL SERVICES Doc. 6.2
This document was deemed not sufficiently developed, in its current form, for the purposes intended and will go back to the EC working group who created it for redrafting and presentation again at the next Executive Council meeting.

Partnerships and cooperation - Item 32
This item of document 6.2 indicated the benefits NMHSs can gain from closer cooperation with outside organizations and groups. However the private sector manufacturers were not mentioned here. HMEI commented its wish to have cooperation with the private sector manufactures addressed in that item and specifically HMEI to be noted as willing to facilitate such cooperation as appropriate.

Future Structure of WMO - Doc 8.3
The initial document 8.3 see document here gives the background to the reasons for the proposed changes.

It was proposed that all eight technical commissions meet together every two years with two days of their meeting being conducted in the usual intergovernmental fashion, with additionally a further six days as a technical conference. It was also proposed that all the technical commissions review their terms of reference to bring them into alignment with the WMO Strategic Plan.

There was considerable discussion on the proposed changes. The final decisions on changes can be seen in the Draft Working Paper of 8.3 available here.

Scientific Lectures - Doc. 10
Climate Change the Scientific and Geopolitical Challenge of the 21st Century - Speaker Dr Zillman - (see presentation here)
This was a frank talk on the challenges and adaptive imperative of Climate Change; and addressing the lead role that NMHSs must play for society in this urgent issue.
Dr Zillman stated the need in the near future for NMHSs to become Environmental Services, delivering seamless service provision at the national level of meteorological, climatological and hydrological information.

The presentation took note that many NMHSs were, and had for many years, concerned themselves to the best of their resources available with climate information and research and often had important information in climate records. However there was a need for resources to be properly dedicated, now, to the NMHSs for their climate work and services. Dr Zillman noted that the necessary infrastructure and support for climate services, by all governments, in a coordinated way, was long overdue and critically needed.