World Meteorological Organization

Direct links to terms of reference of:

- Expert Team on Surface Measurements

- Expert Team on Upper Air Measurements

- Expert Team on Metrology

- Expert Team on Capacity Development and Outreach

- CIMO Editorial Board

- Inter-Programme Expert Team on Operational Weather Radars
(joint CIMO-CBS team, governed by CIMO in consultation with CBS)

- Inter-Programme Expert Team on Aircraft-Based Observations
(joint CBS-CIMO team, governed by CBS in consultation with CIMO)

- Task Team on Radiation References

- Task Team on Classification Schemes

- Task Team on Overall Measurement Uncertainties

- Task Team on Transition to Automation

- Task Team on Upper Air Intercomparison

- Theme Leader on Radiosonde Performance Monitoring

Expert Team on Surface Measurements

* Surface measurements include all surface-based measurements of conditions at the surface (and the measurement methods and technologies involved) and representative of the environment at a surface enclosure. This includes, but is not limited to, all ground-based observer visual (cloud, weather, sea state, and the like) and audio (thunder) measurements, and all in situ measurements, either manual or automated. Radiation, visibility, cloud, weather, etc., measurements are considered to be surface measurements. Note that all weather radar and remote sensing external to a surface enclosure measurements are excluded: they are dealt with by a separate team.

1.         Develop specifications for instruments, observing systems, automatic measurement techniques and manual observing methods in order to meet requirements from Members for the measurement of surface meteorological, climatological, related geophysical and environmental variables.

2.         Develop guidance material and standards related to surface instruments and methods of observation for inclusion in the CIMO Guide and/or as Instruments and Observing Methods (IOM) reports. Ensure that the identification and development of standards is pursued in co-operation with other international standardization organizations, such as ISO and BIPM, where appropriate.

3.         Regularly review, and update as required, all chapters of the CIMO Guide related to surface measurements and instrumentation and ensure consistency with other WIGOS regulatory and guidance material.

4.         Review and publish performance results and recommendations relating to state-of-the-art operational surface instruments, their calibration and measurement methods and their required supporting infrastructure.

5.         Monitor, investigate and report on the performance of emerging surface measurement technologies and techniques, including low cost technologies.

6.         Promote developments related to instruments, automated measurement techniques and methods of manual observation of surface conditions suitable for all Members, including the least developed countries, in liaison with the Association of Hydro-Meteorological Equipment Industry, National Meteorological and Hydrological Services and other relevant scientific institutions.

7.         Review outcomes of the Testbed(s) and/or Lead Centre(s) (TB/LC) assigned to this Expert Team, and in collaboration with the TB/LC(s), coordinate timely inclusion of guidance material on best practices and of training material on the WMO IMOP website, in IOM reports and/or the CIMO Guide.

8.         Review and make proposals on development of more robust instruments with greater resilience to extreme weather and/or climate conditions, and instruments with increased measuring range.

9.         Monitor and review regional and national intercomparisons of surface instrumentation. Ensure that relevant findings from these intercomparisons are included in updated guidance material for the CIMO Guide.

10.       Liaise effectively with the Expert Team on Capacity Development and Outreach on developments of guidelines and training material for supporting activities relevant to the ET Terms of Reference.

11.       Propose to the relevant coordinator the establishment of Task Teams to address specific tasks, as appropriate, and monitor Task Team work progress.

Expert Team on Upper Air Measurements

* Upper air measurements imply all surface-based or in-situ measurements of the conditions above the surface and the technologies involved. This includes all surface-originating soundings, atmospheric profiles and volume scans by passive and active remote sensing. Radar wind profilers, lidar, radiosonde, microwave radiometers, etc. are measurement technologies considered to be associated with upper air measurements. However, upper air measurements from X, C and S band weather radars and aircraft-based measurements are excluded because they are dealt with by two IPETs in collaboration with CBS.

1.         Develop specifications for instruments, observing systems, automatic measurement techniques and manual observing methods in order to meet requirements from Members for the measurement of upper air meteorological, climatological, related geophysical and environmental variables.

2.         Develop guidance material and standards related to upper air measurements and methods of observation for inclusion in the CIMO Guide and/or as Instruments and Observing Methods (IOM) reports. Ensure that the identification and development of standards is pursued in co-operation with other international standardization organizations, such as ISO and BIPM, where appropriate.

3.         Regularly review, and update as required, all chapters of the CIMO Guide related to upper air measurements and instrumentation and ensure consistency with other WIGOS regulatory and guidance material.

4.         Review and publish performance results and recommendations relating to state-of-the-art operational upper air instruments, their calibration and measurement methods and their required supporting infrastructure.

5.         Monitor, investigate and report on the performance of emerging upper air measurement technologies and techniques, including low cost technologies.

6.         Promote developments related to instruments, automated measurement techniques and methods of manual observation of upper air conditions suitable for all Members, including the least developed countries, in liaison with the Association of Hydro-Meteorological Equipment Industry, National Meteorological and Hydrological Services and other relevant scientific institutions.

7.         Review outcomes of the Testbed(s) and/or Lead Centre(s) (TB/LC) assigned to this Expert Team, and in collaboration with the TB/LC(s), coordinate timely inclusion of guidance material on best practices and of training material on the WMO IMOP website, in IOM reports and/or the CIMO Guide.

8.         Monitor and review regional and national intercomparisons of upper air instrumentation. Ensure that relevant findings from these intercomparisons are included in updated guidance material in the CIMO Guide.

9.         Liaise effectively with the Expert Team on Capacity Development and Outreach on developments of guidelines and training material for supporting activities relevant to the ET Terms of Reference.

10.       Propose to the relevant coordinator the establishment of Task Teams to address specific tasks, as appropriate, and monitor Task Team work progress.

Expert Team on Metrology

1.         Develop  guidance material towards implementation of the strategy for traceability assurance, thus ensuring worldwide traceability of measurements to the International System of Units (SI).

2.         Promote further the partnership between Regional Instrument Centres (RICs) of developing and developed countries and encourage Members to use the system of internship in RICs in the various WMO Regions.

3.         Strengthen the Quality Assurance of the RICs and Regional Radiation Centres (RRCs) by monitoring their capabilities and providing support to their evaluations, towards their certification and/or accreditation.

4.         Promote collaboration between RICs and Regional Marine Instrument Centres (RMICs), as well as between RICs and Regional WIGOS Centres (RWCs), as appropriate.

5.         Collaborate with RICs to enhance their activities on developing training material and holding training workshops in their Regions, in collaboration with Regional Training Centres (RTCs), on calibration and traceability, including computation of measurement uncertainty, and conduction of inter-laboratory comparisons.

6.         Liaise effectively with the Expert Team on Capacity Development and Outreach on developments of guidelines and training material for supporting activities relevant to the ET Terms of Reference.

7.         Regularly review, and update as required, all chapters of the CIMO Guide relevant to the ET working area instrumentation and ensure consistency with other WIGOS regulatory and guidance material.

8.         Propose to the relevant coordinator the establishment of Task Teams to address specific tasks, as appropriate, and monitor Task Team work progress.

Expert Team on Capacity Development and Outreach

1.         Develop training modules, in collaboration with WMO ETR and RTCs, and based on recently updated guidance material developed by other CIMO expert teams, on priority topics of interest to Members.

2.         Develop short training modules, and outreach material, to sensitize users and managers on the importance and challenges of measurements, and related quality issues.

3.         Develop and implement a system that will enable CIMO experts to provide rapid update news releases to Members regarding the recent achievements/milestones in the work of the CIMO expert teams.

4.         Collaborate with CIMO expert teams and task teams to regularly gather noteworthy CIMO news items and publish these via the selected CIMO news medium.

5.        Monitor the success of the rapid update news system by surveying Members and propose improvements, as appropriate.

6.         Regularly review, and update as required, all chapters of the CIMO Guide relevant to the ET working area.

7.         Propose to the relevant coordinator the establishment of Task Teams to address specific tasks, as appropriate, and monitor Task Team work progress.

CIMO Editorial Board

1.         Coordinate activities for the periodic updating of the Guide to Meteorological Instruments and Methods of Observation (WMO-No. 8) (CIMO Guide), in collaboration with CIMO working bodies, other WMO technical commissions and programmes, HMEI and the WMO Secretariat, namely.

2.         Monitor the contents of the CIMO Guide for material that might be progressively elevated to the level of regulatory material.

3.         Liaise with the WIGOS Editorial Board on development of a method to ensure consistency between the WIGOS regulatory material and the CIMO Guide, and contribute to maintain this consistency.

4.         Monitor the International Cloud Atlas (ICA) – Manual on the Observation of Clouds and Other Meteors (WMO-No. 407) website to ensure its integrity is maintained.

5.         Monitor public feedback on issues/errors identified in the ICA and log these messages for consideration during preparation of its next edition. Develop recommendations to the Management Group on the need to develop another edition of the ICA, if appropriate.

6.         Review proposals for, and manage review and revision of, draft IOM reports.

7.         Review proposals for and advise ETs on the development of common ISO/WMO standards.

8.         Contribute to the development and review of other WMO guidance and regulatory material, as appropriate.

Inter-Programme Expert Team on Operational Weather Radars

Note: This joint CIMO-CBS Inter-Programme Expert Team is governed and coordinated by CIMO, in collaboration with CBS.

Within the WIGOS framework, under the governance of CIMO and the joint guidance of CIMO and CBS, act as the WMO primary working group on operational weather radars (S, C and X band) with responsibility to:

1.         Develop and propose regulatory and guidance material on:

(a)      Standardization of, and regulations and guidance on, systems requirements and specifications, quality control, maintenance and operation, data processing algorithms, data products and data quality monitoring, weather radar composites, and scanning strategies;

(b)      Response to requirements of data users; and

(c)      Training and capacity development.

2.         Contribute to development of methods, models and formats for the international exchange of weather radar data and metadata.

3.         Provide advice on network design.

4.         Provide guidance on radio-frequency allocation and protection.

5.         Review and report on potential operational developing and emerging weather radar research and technologies.

6.         Collaborate with other international and regional organizations on relevant matters, particularly including international standards organizations and research bodies and associations.

7.         Collaborate with and respond to the requests of WMO constituent bodies, as appropriate.

8.         Develop and document proposals for the activities of the Inter-Programme Expert Team.

9.         Report on issues, activities and progress to CIMO and CBS.

Inter-Programme Expert Team on Aircraft-Based Observations

Note: This joint CBS-CIMO Inter-Programme Expert Team is governed and coordinated by CBS, in collaboration with CIMO.  This IPET is consequently not strictly part of the CIMO working structure, though it conduct tasks relevant to CIMO.

Within the WIGOS framework and the auspices of the WMO Aircraft-Based Observing System Programme (ABO), under the governance of CBS and the joint guidance of CBS and CIMO, act as the WMO primary working group on aircraft-based systems and observations with responsibility to:

1.         Oversee and coordinate the programmatic, scientific, and technical development and operation of aircraft-based observing systems (including AMDAR, Mode-S, ADS and other commercial systems), and of aircraft-based instruments and methods of observations;

2.         Develop and manage the work plan and associated activities of the expert team, including the budget for associated expenditure of the AMDAR Trust Fund in line with its Terms of Reference;

3.         Coordinate the development, scientific testing, validation and inter-comparison of existing and new methods of observation (including humidity, turbulence and inflight icing) for aircraft-based observing systems, as well as for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs);

4.         Organize and conduct the development, maintenance and provision of technical standards and specifications associated with aircraft-based observations according to user requirements;

5.         Collaborate with the aviation industry (for example, the airlines and IATA), relevant international and regional organizations (for example, ICAO), on relevant matters, and oversee the international and regional aspects of management of aircraft-based observational data;

6.         Promote development and maintenance of the aircraft-based observations component of the WIGOS Data Quality Monitoring System;

7.         Review outcomes of relevant CIMO Testbed(s) and/or Lead Centre(s), and coordinate inclusion of guidance material in IOM reports and Guide to Meteorological Instruments and Methods of Observations (WMO-No. 8);

8.         Compile and review updates and new material on aircraft-based observations and observing systems, including in particular maintenance of relevant Regulatory and Guidance Material, in WMO-No. 8, WMO-No. 1160, WMO-No. 1165, and WMO-No. 1200;

9.         Conduct and provide support for training and outreach activities of WMO, to support the development of aircraft-based observing systems and the use of aircraft-based observations;

10.       Work in collaboration and cooperation with other teams and WMO on the above activities as appropriate and as necessary;

11.       Report on issues, activities and progress to CBS and CIMO, as well as to CAeM if required.

Task Team on Radiation References

To address implications of proposed changes to the solar and terrestrial radiation references, by:

1.         Reviewing and reporting to the CIMO MG on the recent developments of reference instruments for solar and terrestrial radiation with regard to observed differences to references currently in use;

2.         Assessing potential impact and consequences of a change in solar/terrestrial reference scales for stakeholders;

3.         Making recommendation on requirements and timeliness for a modification of the current references, and if required develop an implementation plan for the change (including proposing how to deal with old data and timelines for its introduction);

4.         Providing regular progress reports and a final report with recommendations to the CIMO MG;

5.         Proposing update of the relevant parts of the CIMO Guide, as necessary.

Task Team on Classification Schemes

1.         Examine available experiences on implementation of the siting classification scheme and assess the need and, as appropriate, propose possible ways for updating the classification scheme.

2.         Revise the siting classification scheme as required, in collaboration with ISO.

3.         Develop guidance documentation and relevant outreach material for Members on implementation of the siting classification scheme.

4.         Keep under review and if appropriate refine the scheme for classification of surface measurement quality.

5.         Develop guidance and outreach material for Members on implementation of the scheme for classification of surface measurement quality.

Task Team on Overall Measurement Uncertainties

In accordance with guidance and recommendations of CIMO-17, resolve ambiguities within the Annex on Operational Measurement Uncertainty Requirements and Instrument Performance (CIMO Guide, Part I, Chapter 1, Annex 1.E.) and differences between this Annex and uncertainty requirements in WMO Observing Systems Capability Analysis and Review Tool (OSCAR).

1.         Review the Annex on Operational Measurement Uncertainty Requirements and Instrument Performance of the CIMO Guide, Part I, Chapter 1, Annex 1.E.

2.         Revise this Annex taking into consideration the uncertainty requirements published in the OSCAR/Requirements database, which are stated as mandatory requirements in the Manual on WIGOS (WMO-No. 1160).

3.         Liaise with the CBS IPET-OSDE on identifying variables that should be included in this Annex (such as Essential Climate Variables (ECV) and the Essential Oceanographic Variables (EOV).

4.         Collaborate with IPET-OSDE to improve the OSCAR/Requirements database by implementing the internationally approved definitions on measurement uncertainty, published by BIPM.

5.         Liaise with TT on Classification Schemes to ensure that there is consistency between the required over-arching Overall Measurement Uncertainties and the two classification schemes that represent the implementation of measurements in the real world.

6.         Propose updates of this Annex to the CIMO Editorial Board.

7.         Develop mechanisms for ensuring consistency between the Annex of the CIMO Guide and OSCAR/Requirements database, in the future.

Task Team on Transition to Automation

1.        Examine the existing guidance documentation on automation of observations, automated data processing, automated networks and data management and develop a comprehensive list of references that can be used as a source for preparation for transition to automation.

2.         Develop strategy for automation of observations, including possible ways of its implementation, targeting management at the level of Permanent Representatives but also at the level of the managers of measurements infrastructure and national observing networks.

3.         Develop training material, preferably e-learning courses, on implementation of the strategy.

Task Team on Upper Air Intercomparison

1.         Revise and finalise the concept for an upper air intercomparison campaign proposed to be organised in 2021.

2.         Decide on criteria for participation, required facilities, human and technical resources, procedures for data acquisition, processing and analysis, and arrangement for publication of final report and develop detailed implementation plan.

3.         Coordinate activities related to the organization of the intercomparison.

4.         Oversee conduct of the intercomparison.

5.         Evaluate the data, draft final report and arrange for its approval.

6.         Based on the outcomes of the intercomparison, develop recommendations and relevant guidance material, including update of the CIMO guide, as appropriate.

Theme Leader on Radiosonde Performance Monitoring

1.         Arrange for the production of monitoring reports on the systematic performances of radiosonde networks in WIGOS (Radiosonde catalogue and statistics).

2.         Liaise with CBS, HMEI and Members on performance issues identified.

3.         Liaise with relevant CBS teams to resolve radiosonde coding issues.

4.         Engage with the OSCAR Development Team to ensure smooth transition of all information previously stored in the WMO Catalogue of Radiosonde Stations across to OSCAR.