Commission for Basic Systems (CBS)

The integrated systems for weather, climate and water related observations and data sharing worldwide is coordinated through the Commission for Basic Systems. Through its activities, the Commission develops, implements and operates observation network and the related data processing, communication and management – and the provision of public weather services – in response to requirements of all WMO programmes. As the lead Technical Commission for the World Weather Watch Programme (WWW), the WMO Space Programme and the Public Weather Services Programme, the Commission takes advantages of all opportunities offered by technological developments. 

The Commission’s work is accomplished through a Management Group and four Open Programme Area Groups (OPAG) on Integrated Observing System, on Information System and Services, on Data-Processing and Forecasting System and on Public Weather Services. Each OPAG relies on several Expert Teams and an Implementation Coordination Team to develop and coordinate programme outputs and to guide global implementation. Rapporteurs and Coordinators have been established on specific subjects, especially for cross-cutting WMO programmes

• Cooperation with Members, other technical commissions and relevant bodies in the development and operation of integrated systems for observing, data processing, telecommunications, and data management in response to requirements of all WMO Programmes and opportunities provided by technological developments;
• The assessment of opportunities for, and the provision of, a common infrastructure to meet the requirements defined by technical commissions and regional associations, as well as by organizations with whom WMO has relations, taking into account new applications of meteorology, hydrology, oceanography, and related environmental sciences;
• Development and implementation of the Public Weather Services Programme;
• The processing, storage and retrieval of basic data for meteorological and related purposes including, in particular, the organization of the Global Data-processing and Forecasting System of the World Weather Watch;
• The development and application of systems and techniques to meet user requirements including those of operational weather analysis and forecasting and of services for environmental emergency authorities;
• Observational systems, facilities and networks (land, sea, air, and space) as decided by Members including, in particular, all technical aspects of the Global Observing System of the World Weather Watch;
• Telecommunication networks, radio-frequency allocation and facilities for operational, research and applications purposes including, in particular, the organization of the Global Telecommunication System of the World Weather Watch;
• The development and application of operational procedures, schedules, and arrangements for the international exchange of observational data and processed information, in particular, through the Global Telecommunication System;
• The development and application of data management principles and procedures including monitoring and evaluation of the common infrastructure, in particular, of the World Weather Watch.

President: Michel JEAN - Canada
Vice-President: Meiyan JIAO (Ms) - China