Fact sheets

Fact sheets

For use of the information media. Not an official record

Questions and answers on the Japan earthquake aftermath
(March 2011)

What is WMO doing in response to the Japanese crisis?

The World Meteorological Organization has activated its Environmental Emergency Response mechanism and is providing the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) with meteorological information as per agreement under the Joint Radiation Emergency Management Plan of the International Organization (IAEA EPR-JPLAN 2010). On behalf of WMO, the National Meteorological Service of Austria (ZAMG) is  providing meteorological support to the IAEA Incident and Emergency Centre (IEC) in Vienna on a 24/7 basis, and the National Meteorological Service of Switzerland (MétéoSuisse), is providing meteorological support to WHO at Headquarters in Geneva. >> full text

LA NIÑA AND CURRENT EXTREME WEATHER: QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
(January 2011)

What is La Niña? La Niña, a Spanish term that literally translates to ”girl child”, is characterized by unusually cold ocean surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific. It is the opposite of El Niño (“boy child”, traditionally used by Peruvians to refer to the Christ Child as the phenomenon was often observed around Christmas), which is characterized by unusually warm ocean surface temperatures. The two events are strongly coupled with changes in atmospheric pressure and the associated large-scale circulation patterns, and are considered to be the opposite phases of air-sea interactions over the region collectively referred to as “El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO)”. They disrupt the normal patterns of tropical precipitation and atmospheric circulation, and have widespread impacts on climate in many parts of the world accompanied by the associated climate-related risks. >> full text

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