WMO recognition mechanism for long-term observing stations:
- WMO Secretary-General sends out to Members, on a regular basis (e.g. every second year), an invitation to apply for WMO recognition of long-term observing stations as per endorsed criteria;
Note: The invitation will include the list of recognition criteria to be ticked off and commented on by Members for each nominated observing station. Further, it will include information on the review process and it will request nomination of a national focal point including information of his/her official position in their respective organization. Members will be encouraged to include in their application, nominations from observing station operators outside the National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHS).
- Review of nominations received for the recognition of long-term observing stations by an Advisory Board consisting of experts from Infrastructure and Services Commissions (climate, hydrology and marine domains; climate observing networks; measurement, instruments and traceability), GCOS, Research Board and regional associations, as appropriate;
- Recommendations for formal recognition of long-term observing stations to be tabled at Executive Council sessions for endorsement, after a review by the Technical Coordination Committee;
- Recognized stations to be listed in the Observing Systems Capability Analysis and Review tool (OSCAR);
- WMO Secretariat to run, and to keep up to date, a website and a brochure on long-term observing stations indicating their importance, with reference to the above-mentioned station list;
- Recognized stations to be re-assessed every 10 years;
- Any substantive change to the recognition mechanism and its criteria shall be tabled at a session of a WMO Technical Commission for Members’ approval and channeled through the Technical Coordination Committee for Executive Council endorsement.
Advisory Board for the Recognition of Long-term Observing Stations Terms of Reference:
Membership
The Advisory Board consists of experts from the Commission for Observation, Infrastructures and Information Systems (INFCOM) and the Commission for Weather, Climate, Water and Related Environmental Service Applications (SERCOM) (climate, hydrology and marine domains; climate observing networks; measurement, instruments and traceability, GCOS, Research Board and Regional Associations, as appropriate.
Current Members are:
- Mr Zeke Hausfather, climate expert and SERCOM representative
- Mr Bruce Hartley, expert on instruments and methods of observations and INFCOM representative
- Mrs Carmen Beltrano, expert on long-term observations at observatories and SERCOM representative
- Mr Tim Oakley, expert on climate observations and GCOS/INFCOM representative
- Mr Pablo Canziani, expert on data rescue and Research Board representative
Terms of Reference
Analyse the completed assessments for nominated candidate stations submitted by Members and propose a list of long-term observing stations to be recognized by WMO Executive Council;
Review biannually the implementation of the assessment, the evolution of the WMO Website for long-term observing stations and the recognition mechanisms and provide relevant advice and recommendations to Executive Council.
