This kind of specialized application depends directly on the operational infrastructure of the numerical weather prediction systems that are implemented and maintained at many of the global, regional or national meteorological centres within WMO's World Weather Watch system.
The ERA programme was established to assist National Meteorological and Hydrological Services, their respective national agencies and relevant international organizations to respond effectively to environmental emergencies involving large-scale dispersion of airborne hazardous substances.
Following the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident in 1986, the programme focused its operational arrangements and support on nuclear facility accidents. The programme was gradually expanded to emergency response for non-nuclear environmental emergencies such as the dispersion of smoke from large fires, chemical releases and fire/smoke from industrial accidents.
WMO has implemented and maintains a system of Regional Specialized Meteorological Centres (RSMCs) that provide real-time 24/7 specialized atmospheric dispersion model products for environmental emergency response and backtracking. These specialized centres, providing complete global coverage 24 hours a day, every day, are located in National Meteorological Centres at:
- Beijing (China) – Nuclear
- Exeter (United Kingdom) – Nuclear
- Melbourne (Australia) – Nuclear
- Montreal (Canada) – Nuclear and non-nuclear
- Obninsk (Russian Federation) – Nuclear
- Offenbach (Germany) – Nuclear and non-nuclear
- Tokyo (Japan) – Nuclear
- Toulouse (France) – Nuclear and non-nuclear
- Vienna (Austria) – Nuclear
- Washington (USA) – Nuclear
For nuclear emergencies, the system also includes a telecommunication gateway at Offenbach (Germany) to provide notification and real-time information linkage between the Incident and Emergency Centre of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the WMO.
Purpose, objectives and organization of the ERA Programme
Purpose and scope
Accidental or intentional (eg. war-induced) release of hazardous materials into the atmosphere and water bodies constitute a major threat to life and safety of mankind and can take on international or even global dimensions. The nature, occurrence, or dimension of such incidents are not foreseeable. Governments have, therefore, undertaken to develop and implement emergency plans to mitigate the disastrous impact of such incidents on population and economy. The national Meteorological and Hydrological Services advise the governments on the concentration of toxic or radioactive materials and their probable transportation in the atmosphere and water bodies.
The Emergency Response Activities (ERA) Programme assists NMHSs, other relevant agencies of Member countries and relevant international organizations to respond effectively to environmental emergencies with large-scale transboundary air pollution, caused in particular by major nuclear accidents, volcanic eruptions, chemical accidents, and land fires. This is carried out through the provision of specialized WMO Integrated Processing and Prediction System (WIPPS) products by designated RSMCs, the development and implementation of procedures for the provision and exchange of specific observational data, and of related training support for users. Activities related to nuclear accidents are based on the International Conventions on Early Notification and on Assistance, to which WMO is party along with other international organizations concerned under the overall coordination of the IAEA. The Programme serves the implementation of a strategy to assist NMHSs to contribute to Disaster Risk Reduction goals and to carryout effective work in collaboration with international partners.
Main long-term objectives
The main long-term objectives of the Emergency Response Activities Programme are to develop and improve Members' capabilities to respond effectively to environmental emergencies with large-scale transboundary air pollution, in particular major nuclear incidents. In addition, the same technological capabilities are evolving and have become applicable for increasingly localized applications including smoke from fires on a regional, sub-continental scale, to chemical spills and incidents on a more local scales. It is desirable to coordinate and collaborate with other programmes of relevant international organizations to ensure programme effectiveness.
Programme Organization
The programme is carried out under the Standing Committee on WMO Integrated Processing and Prediction System (SC-WIPPS) as regards implementation co-ordination and support from the Commission for Observation, Infrastructure and Information Systems (INFCOM), and through effective co-ordination and collaboration with relevant UN and international agencies as well as Members. The programme is highly coupled with WIPPS, relying on atmospheric dispersion modelling tools that are highly integrated within operational NWP systems. Prompt response to unforeseeable emergency events is essential. The programme is achieved through regular exercises, expert meetings, workshops, consultant services, training events and international conferences, collaboration with other international agencies, as well as inter-agency co-ordination activities.
