WMO Information System (WIS)

Frequently Asked Questions

WIS is necessary to ensure all WMO information is available to all WMO users and to ensure long term sustainability of all WMO information systems.

The GTS will continue develop and incorporate new technology as the heart of WIS linking all 188 WMO Member state and territories with a dedicated, secure network. The data management framework of the GTS will still be the focus for the ongoing development of data representation systems, including the fast and efficient coding practices that allow otherwise voluminous data streams to reach those countries with less advanced or low capacity communication systems. This network will continue to be supported by advanced satellite distribution systems. In addition to the maintenance of WMOs private network, the GTS will be able to make better use of public communications such as the internet.

Present WMO World Weather Watch (WWW) centres will be ncS, DCPCs or GISCs under WIS as follows:

WIS provides access to WMO’s monitoring and forecasting systems for land water, ocean and atmosphere. It includes search via the internet of WMO catalogues and access to WIS contributors' sites (eg EUMETSAT, ECMWF,… ).
WIS includes access to GEOSS catalogues and data (including ESA, NASA, …).
WIS framework is based on ISO19115 metadata and supports web services
Search in WIS is based on ISO23950 and supports Catalogue Search for Web (CSW)
Furthermore, ISO23950 supports pattern recognition based search
WIS enables non-WMO systems to participate in WMO dedicated networks, including (if approved) ability to publish via WIS

WIS is based on interoperability standards being used by many organizations including metadata and search. This includes ISO19115,  ISO19139 and ISO23950 for metadata, its xml representation and for search.

WIS is now in its implementation stage and we expect the first GISC online this year. Once a WIS catalogue is up and running, people can start to find WMO products and services. 38 counries have identified their commitment to implementing WIS centres, which include 13 GISCs and over 90 DCPCs nominations already received.

Most time critical operations supporting World Weather Watch activity should be fully WIS compliant by 2011 and less critical components by 2015. View the list of current centres.

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