Activities and Objectives

The WMO Space Programme promotes availability and utilization of satellite data and products for weather, climate, water and related applications of WMO Members.

It aims to leverage an "end-to-end system", for weather and climate services. This ranges from capturing of data, over calibration to quality control, dissemination and user-training. The Space programme is actively engaged with projects and activities in each of these steps. (Illustration 1)

Illustration 1: Activities of the WMO Space Programme along the "End-to-End" System

The space programme's activities span four main components:

Integrated space-based observing system

The long-term goal is an integrated space-based observing system involving operational and R&D environmental satellites and ground segments, supporting all WMO or WMO-supported programmes, as the space-based component of WIGOS.

Through partnership with satellite operating agencies, CGMS and CEOS, the Space Programme:

keeps under review the space-based observing capabilities
analyzes the gaps with respect to evolving requirements
leads the definition and updating of a baseline system
supports global planning, optimization, and coordination
organizes satellite inter-calibration
encourages transition of new technology to operations.

More info:

Availability and use of satellite data and products

While upcoming satellite systems will generate increasing amounts of advanced measurements, a major challenge is to ensure that improved data and products are actually available to more users in all regions.
The Space Programme supports cooperation on:

Key application products (e.g. SCOPE-CM for climate)
Processing software and data assimilation
Improved data accessibility through the Integrated Global Data Dissemination Service (IGDDS) project, which involves:
- formulation of data access requirements
- integrated dissemination systems (DVB-S/S2)
- interoperability through WIS data/metadata standards
- Direct Broadcast protocols, Internet-based services, sounding retransmission and other initiatives.

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Space Weather Coordination

The Space Programmesupports international coordination of operational activities in Space Weather in order to improve Space Weather hazard warnings to key application sectors such as aviation, radio-communications, satellite operations, power grid operations, or precise positioning.
The Space Programme supports:

review of observing requirements, capabilities, gap analysis, and recommendations for future observations
standardization and enhancement of Space Weather Data exchange and delivery through the WIS
harmonization of product definition and specificatioin interaction with key application sectors including ICAO
information and training, and dialogue between the research- and operational Space Weather communities.

More info:

Introduction to Space Weather

User Information and Training

The goal is to raise awareness on satellite capabilities and to promote satellite-relatededucation to keep Members's staff up-to-date with technological evolutions, with focus on developing countries.
The Space Programme :

implements the five-year strategy for the Virtual Laboratory (VLab) relying on the network of Centres of Excellence
supports participation of developing countries in training events and scientific conferences as resources allow
monitors satellite data use by WMO Members
maintains web sites and portals providing guidance on the availability and use of satellite data, produts and services

More info:

Reference to the WMO Strategic Plan 2012-2015

With reference to the strategic thrusts of the WMO Strategic Plan 2012-2015 , the Space Programme is contributing in particular to "Advancing scientific research and application, as well as development and implementation of technology " and to "Strengthening capacity building" , serving more specifically Expected Result 4:

"Enhanced capabilities of Members to access, develop, implement and use integrated and interoperable Earth- and space-based systems for weather, climate and hydrological observations as well as related environmental observations, based on world standards set by WMO"