CIMO Terms of Reference
CIMO Terms of Reference
Annex 2 to Resolution 43 (Cg-XVI)
TERMS OF REFERENCE OF THE
COMMISSION FOR INSTRUMENTS AND METHODS OF OBSERVATION
The Commission shall be responsible for matters relating to international standardization, compatibility and sustainability of instruments and methods of observation of meteorological, climatological, hydrological, marine, and related geophysical and environmental variables.
This responsibility underpins all observations within WIGOS, and will be carried out in close consultation with relevant WMO partner organizations that co-sponsor, own and/or operate some of the observing systems. This responsibility also extends to supporting the requirements of WMO cross-cutting activities such as the Global Framework for Climate Services, Disaster Risk Reduction and Capacity Building.
This shall include in particular:
(a) Respond to the requirements for standardized and compatible observations, including data content, quality, metadata and observational product generation;
(b) Provide advice, and recommendations, and promote studies concerning effective and sustainable use of instruments and methods of observation, including quality management procedures such as methods for testing, preventive maintenance, calibration and quality assurance;
(c) Conduct and/or coordinate global and regional instrument intercomparisons and performance testing of instruments and methods of observation;
(d) In collaboration with the other international organizations, such as BIPM and ISO, promote the development of measurement traceability to recognized international standards (SI), including reference instruments within a hierarchy of world, regional, national and lead
centres for instrument calibration, development and testing;
(e) Promote compatibility, intercomparison, integration and inter-operability within and between, space-based and surface-based (in situ and remote-sensing) observations, including conducting testbed observing experiments;
(f) Encourage research and development of new approaches in the field of instruments and methods of observation of meteorological, climatological, hydrological, marine, and related geophysical and environmental variables;
(g) Promote the appropriate and economical production of instruments and methods of observation with particular attention to the needs of developing countries;
(h) Support training and capacity-building activities in the area of instruments and methods of observation;
(i) Liaise with the scientific research community and instrument manufacturers to evaluate and to introduce new observing systems into operations.
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