GEO: taking the pulse of the planet

The Secretariat of the International Group on Earth Observations (GEO) will be hosted by WMO at its Headquarters in Geneva, as will the first session of GEO (May 2005). A transitional GEO Secretariat will serve until the permanent GEO Secretariat is established by the end of 2005. 

GEO’s 10-Year Implementation Plan for a Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) will integrate environmental observations made on land, in the atmosphere, in the oceans and from space in such a way that the data will be readily available and useful to decision-makers worldwide. 

The aim behind GEOSS is to increase international cooperation and information distribution in the domain of Earth observation, by minimizing data gaps, exchanging scientific data and building capacity. WMO’s observing and monitoring systems will make substantial contributions. 

The benefits of GEOSS will range from disaster prevention, climate monitoring and environmental  preservation to improved socio-economic development. GEOSS will help all nations involved to manage their information in a way that benefits the environment as well as humanity. 

WMO will be fully involved in the planning and implementation of GEOSS and will encourage National Meteorological and Hydrological Services to participate so that they may derive maximum benefit. 

For more information, see http://earthobservations.org/

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