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Press Release No. 845

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BOOSTING KNOWLEDGE OF AIR QUALITY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

THROUGH ENHANCED OBSERVATIONS

Geneva, 5 May 2009 (WMO) – Scientists need new improved observational and analysis techniques to address climate-relevant questions of the twenty-first century. From reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating climate change to monitoring stratospheric ozone recovery and forecasting air quality, these issues require observational systems fully integrated at the regional and national levels. From 5 to 7 May, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is bringing together some 90 experts from 30 countries to discuss how to best address these issues and advance studies of atmospheric composition.

The WMO Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) programme is the global cornerstone for integrated global atmospheric chemistry observations and analysis. WMO has coordinated greenhouse gas observations globally since 1975, and stratospheric ozone observations even longer. GAW provides data for scientific assessments and for early warnings of changes in the chemical composition and related physical characteristics of the atmosphere that can impact the environment. The importance of GAW is growing with recognition of the significant links between of air quality and climate change.

Key to GAW’s operations are worldwide stations to measure background levels of gases and particles in the atmosphere and widespread observations and monitoring. Observations from ground-based networks, airborne systems and satellite sensors need to continue to be assessed and integrated to provide globally coherent information on regional and global scales. Such integration provides a level of scientific understanding not available in the past.

For example, in past decades, monitoring of carbon dioxide focused on determining and understanding its trends and distribution in the atmosphere. Today, that is not enough: Scientists need to evaluate emissions and even uptake of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases at Earth’s surface to fully understand the global carbon cycle. New tools are emerging to determine emissions and uptake of carbon dioxide using networks of atmospheric observations, such as those in GAW, that both feed into and are based off of models of land and ocean processes. These tools require more and better observations to provide policy-relevant information. Near real-time data delivery and enhanced information transfer will enable faster and more reliable weather and air quality predictions in the near future for use by decision-makers.

The GAW 2009 meeting organized this week at WMO headquarters celebrates 20 years of activities for enhanced knowledge of atmospheric chemistry for the benefit of society. Since 1989, GAW has been the only global long-term programme for measuring atmospheric composition. WMO recognizes the important, and often difficult, efforts made by some 80 countries in continuing these activities.

The need to provide more regionally relevant information about atmospheric composition to climate scientists and then to policy-makers will be underlined at World Climate Conference-3, 31 August to 4 September in Geneva. It comes a few months ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, where policy-makers will move toward sealing a deal for a post-Kyoto emissions agreement.

WMO is the United Nations' authoritative voice on weather, climate and water

For more information please contact:

Ms Carine Richard-Van Maele, Chief, Communications and Public Affairs, Tel.: +41 (0)22 730 83 15; Email:cpa[at]wmo.int

Ms Gaëlle Sévenier, Press Officer, Communications and Public Affairs, Tel. +41 (0) 22 730 8417. E-mail: gsevenier[at]wmo.int;

Ms Lisa Munoz, Press Officer, Communications and Public Affairs, Tel. +41 (0) 22 730 8213. E-mail: lmunoz[at]wmo.int

Web site: http://www.wmo.int

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