Weather Eye with John Maunder

We live on an interconnected planet. We share one Earth, with one atmosphere and one ocean.

Our weather and climate and the water cycle know no national or political boundaries. International cooperation is essential.

This philosophy has driven the work of the world's meteorological community since 1873 and will guide us as we translate science into services for society for present and future generations.

World Meteorological Day 2024 takes place during WMO's 151 th anniversary. It highlights past achievements, present progress and future potential - from the late 19th century telegraphs and shipping forecasts to supercomputers and space technology.

Throughout this time, National Meteorological and Hydrological Services have worked around the clock to collect and standardise data which underpin the weather forecasts we now take for granted. The history of WMO data exchange is a remarkable story of scientific vision, technological development and, most of all, of a unique system of cooperation to serve society.

The anniversary also serves as a reminder of our changing climate. The International Meteorological Organization – the predecessor of the World Meteorological Organisation – was established in 1873 in an era when pollution from industrial and human activities was at its beginning.

As a result of heat-trapping greenhouse gases, the average global temperature is now more than 1° Celsius higher today compared to 150 years ago. Our weather is more extreme, our ocean is warmer and more acidic, sea levels have risen and glaciers and ice are melting. The rate of change is accelerating. We need urgent action now to slash emissions and to ensure that future generations can both survive and thrive on our planet.

The good news is that rapid scientific and technological advances have greatly improved the accuracy of weather forecasts and life-saving early warnings. Big data is being exchanged more freely among a wider community than ever before, and there are new tools including machine learning and Artificial Intelligence.

There has been significant progress to monitor, simulate and project the global climate to support decision-making.

Our weather, climate and water cycle will be different in the future than in the past. Weather, climate and hydrological services will help us tackle the associated challenges and seize the opportunities.

Since 1961, the World Meteorological Organisation has been celebrating World Meteorological Day with a different theme selected for each year.

2013 Watching the weather to protect life and property: Celebrating 50 years of World Weather Watch

2012 Powering our future with weather, climate and water

2011 Climate for you

2010 60 years of service for your safety and well-being

2008 Observing our planet for a better future

2007 Polar Meteorology; Understanding Global Impact

2006 Preventing and mitigating natural disasters

2005 Weather, Climate, Water and Sustainable Development

2004 Weather, Climate and Water in the Information Age

2003 Our Future Climate

2002 Reducing Vulnerability to Weather and Climate Extremes

2001 Volunteers for Weather, Climate and Water

2000 The World Meteorological Organization - 50 years of service

1999 Weather, climate and health

1998 Weather, oceans and human activity

1997 Weather and water in cities

1996 Meteorology in the service of sports

1995 Public weather services

1994 Observing the weather and climate

1993 Meteorology and the transfer of technology

1992 Weather and climate services for sustainable development

1991 The atmosphere of the living planet Earth

1990 Natural disaster reduction: how Meteorological and Hydrological Services can help

1989 Meteorology in the service of aviation

1988 Meteorology and the media

1987 Meteorology: a model of international cooperation

1986 Climate variations, drought and desertification

1985 Meteorology and public safety

1984 Meteorology aids food production

1983 The Weather observer

1982 Observing the weather from space

1981 World Weather Watch as a tool for development

1980 Man and climatic variability

1979 Meteorology and energy

1978 Meteorology and research for the future

1977 Weather and water

1976 Weather and food

1975 Meteorology and telecommunications

1974 Meteorology and tourism

1973 One hundred years of international cooperation in meteorology

1972 Meteorology and human environment

1971 Meteorology and human environment

1970 Meteorological education and training

1969 The economic value of meteorological services

1968 Meteorology and agriculture

1967 Weather and water

1966 World Weather Watch

1965 International cooperation in meteorology

1964 Meteorology as a factor of economic development

1963 Transport and meteorology (in particular, application of meteorology to aviation)

1962 Contribution of meteorology to agriculture and food production

1961 Meteorology - general themes

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For further Infomation about a wide range of weather/climate matters see my new book Fifteen shades of climate... the fall of the weather dice and the butterfly effect. Just Google 'fifteen shades of climate” for details.