Annex 1
STATEMENT ON THE OCCASION OF THE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE
ASSOCIATION OF HYDRO-METEOROLOGICAL EQUIPMENT INDUSTRY
by
Mr Dieter C. Schiessl, Director, WWW
Mr
Ben Dieterink, Chairman of the of the Association of Hydro-Meteorological
Equipment Industry,
Mr
Jan Hörhammer, Vice-chairman of the of the Association of Hydro-Meteorological
Equipment Industry,
Distinguished
Members of the Association,
Ladies
and Gentlemen,
It is an honour and a privilege for me to convey
the message of the Secretary-General of the World Meteorological
Organization, Mr M. Jarraud, to the General Assembly of the Association
of Hydro-Meteorological Equipment Industry (HMEI).
Ladies
and Gentlemen,
It
has always been part of the WMO strategy to develop and sustain a proactive
collaboration with instrument and equipment manufacturers since we both work for
a common goal, namely the enhancement of global meteorological, environmental
and hydrological observation and monitoring capacities, which should provide the
database for studying and understanding of the global processes related to
weather, climate and water. I am very pleased that the HMEI was able to quickly
fill the void that had been existing for a long time between WMO and instrument
manufacturers. I am also pleased to see that, for the first time, the HMEI is officially
represented at METEOREX and TECO-2005. The
HMEI, with its 76 current members that represents already a large part of the
manufacturing industry, serves as the single contact point for WMO in
aspects related to instruments, equipment and services vice versa, the HMEI
represents today the instrument industry in several WMO bodies.
The official seat of the HMEI Executive Secretary in the WMO Secretariat
is crucial for the close cooperation of the Association with the WMO
Secretariat.
You most certainly recall, that following the request of the HMEI
Association, the fifty-fourth session of the WMO’s Executive Council (2002)
granted HMEI a consultative status with WMO.
Based on this consultative status, the HMEI Association is entitled to be
represented by an observer, without voting rights, at sessions of the World
Meteorological Organization Congress, regional associations and the technical
commissions in which HMEI is interested. At these sessions, HMEI is entitled to
present documents, propose items for agenda and take part in the discussions.
To date, the HMEI nominated 31 experts from 13 firms as to work with the
nine CIMO Expert Teams. So far,
nine HMEI representatives had participated in the Joint
Meeting of the Expert Team on Upper-Air Systems Intercomparisons and
International Organizing Committee on Upper-Air Systems Intercomparisons, held
in Geneva, Switzerland in March 2004, three representatives participated in the
Expert Team on Surface Technology and Measurement Techniques, held in Geneva,
Switzerland in October 2004, and three representatives participated in the
Expert Team on Remote Sensing Upper-Air technology and Techniques, held in
Geneva, Switzerland in March 2005.
I understand, HMEI is prepared to nominate experts to other WMO
Commissions’ expert teams, including the Commissions for Basic Systems,
Climatology, Agrometeorology, Aeronautical Meteorology and Hydrology.
This will undoubtly bring benefits to both WMO and HMEI.
The HMEI representatives also participated in the session of the WMO
constituent bodies, such as Fifty-sixth session of the Executive Council,
Twelfth Session of the Commission for Hydrology, and the Thirteenth Session of
the Commission for Basic Systems.
It is very gratifying to note that the joint efforts of HMEI and the WMO
Secretariat have opened a new dimension for collaboration between the private
instrument sector and WMO.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
WMO Intercomparisons are essential both for WMO Programmes as well as for
manufacturers and for the users who demand
accurate and homogenous measurements. Comparisons
of sensors, instruments and equipment, which are in operational use, are
important means of determining the performance characteristics of the systems
under in-situ (field) conditions.
In this regard I am pleased that many of manufacturers were able to take
part in the WMO intercomparisons organized in 2005.
This includes the WMO Laboratory
Intercomparisons of Rainfall Intensity (RI) gauges, WMO Intercomparison of
High-quality Radiosonde Systems and International and Regional Pyrheliometer
Comparisons.
The WMO Laboratory Intercomparison of
Rainfall Intensity Gauges was launched, simultaneously, in September 2004,
in the laboratories of the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute, Météo‑France
and the Italian Met Service (University of Genoa). The selected 19 pairs of
instruments from 18 manufacturers were divided into three groups, with each
group being tested for a period of about three months in each of the
laboratories, in order to obtain a high degree of confidence in the results. The
first phase of tests was completed in January and the second in April 2005, the
last - third phase is expected to end in mid-2005.
The preliminary results of the first phase will be presented during
TECO-2005.
The
WMO Intercomparison of High Quality Radiosonde Systems was held in Vacoas,
Mauritius, from 1 to 27 February 2005.
After training of the local supporting staff and the installation of the
ground equipment, the intercomparison started on 7 February 2005.
Six operational radiosonde systems participated in the intercomparison,
which comprised 62 successful comparison flights. The
objectives of the intercomparison were achieved and the preliminary results will
be provided to TECO-2005 participants.
Preparations have started for the tenth International Pyrheliometer
Comparison (IPC‑X) and conjoint Regional Pyrheliometer Comparisons (RPC)
to be held in September/October 2005 in the World Radiation Centre (WRC), Davos,
Switzerland. That event is primarily intended for the calibration of standard
pyrheliometers of all WMO Regional Radiation Centres (RRCs). It is planned to
carry out conjointly RPCs of all Regions similarly as at previous IPCs. National
Standard Pyrheliometers that are maintained at National Radiation Centres (NRCs)
concerned, will be compared against the World Standard Group as part of the RPC.
If the comparison infrastructure allows, other national institutions may apply
for participation at the IPC‑X. The WRC in Davos, will organize a
scientific symposium and a workshop during the IPC‑X related to
meteorological radiometry and atmospheric radiation and relevant manufacturers
are invited to take part also in this symposium.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The Product catalogue of the HMEI members provides direct links to
on-line information of HMEI member companies' products.
At the same time, most of your members advertise their products also in
the World Meteorological Instrument Catalogue.
Its third edition (2005) is being prepared by China Meteorological
Administration (CMA) on behalf of WMO. I would
suggest that, in the future we might join our efforts and produce only one
catalogue to assist our WMO’s Members in selecting the most suitable
instruments for applications. For
this to happen, the outline and format of a possible ”common” Catalogue
should have the structure agreed at CIMO-XIII (2002).
Ladies and Gentlemen,
WMO is at the forefront in developing and setting standards and defining methods of observations in all these application areas. I truly believe that the continuing co-operation between WMO and the HMEI Association will be beneficial for both communities. You will learn early of WMO plans and intentions, and WMO will benefit from views and advice the industry has to offer. It is very important, for instance, that WMO experts are made aware of potential engineering or cost implications newly emerging observing methodology might have on the instrumentation and on the operational and economic possibilities of the developing countries. It is also helpful for the manufacturers to receive periodically reports on the reliability and maintainability of their products that re deployed on developing countries or operated under harsh environmental conditions.
In conclusion, I would like once again to congratulate the HMEI and
assure you of WMO's continuous collaboration.
I wish you a successful continuation of your deliberations here in
Bucharest.
Thank you for your attention.
_________________________________________