Note: WMO Congress adopted WIPPS as a new name of the previous GDPFS at 19^th Session (June 2023)

The last decades have witnessed tremendous advancements in Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP), thanks to better assimilated, improved observations, increased computing capacity and advances in our knowledge of dynamics and physics. These advancements have led to increasingly skillful weather forecasting and will continue to be important in the future. Consequently, the emphasis in operational meteorology, hydrology, oceanography and climatology has shifted towards the implementation of increasingly sophisticated and diverse numerical models and applications in order to serve an ever-increasing variety of users. Operational NWP systems generally provide an accurate indication of developing weather events from hours to days ahead. They are, therefore, one of the most relevant components of routine and severe weather forecasting and warnings at National Meteorological and Hydrological Services.

However, the weather forecasting capability among these National Services in varies enormously. While, the more advanced Members are leveraging the advancements in NWP, but those in the developing and least developed Members have seen limited progress due to budget constraints and reduced capabilities and leading to a widening gap. The WMO Integrated Processing and Prediction System (WIPPS), encompasses all systems operated by Members, including those jointly coordinated with other international organizations such as ICAO. WIPPS facilitates the utilisation of advancements in NWP by providing a framework for sharing data related to operational meteorology, hydrology, oceanography and climatology. The main support for the exchange and delivery of these data is the WMO Information System (WIS). One of the key benefits of the WMO Information System is the expansion of the range of centres that can connect to the system, thereby increasing the range of applications within the global data-processing and forecasting system.

Introduction to WIPPS

Purpose

The main purpose of the Global Data-processing and Forecasting Systems (GDPFS) shall be to prepare and make available to Members in the most cost-effective way meteorological analyses and forecast products. The design, functions, organizational structure and operations of the GDPFS shall be in accordance with Members' needs and their ability to contribute to and benefit from the system.

GDPFS Real-time Functions

• Pre-processing of data, e.g. retrieval, quality control, decoding, sorting of data stored in a database for use in preparing output products;
• Preparation of analyses of the three-dimensional structure of the atmosphere with up-to-global coverage;
• Preparation of forecast products (fields of basic and derived atmospheric parameters) with up-to-global coverage for one to 10 days ahead;
• Preparation of specialized products such as limited area very fine-mesh short-, medium-, extended-, and long-range forecasts, tailored products for marine, aviation, environmental quality monitoring, and other purposes;
• Monitoring of observational data quality.
• Post-processing of NWP data using workstation and PC based systems with a view to producing tailored value added products and generation of weather and climate forecasts directly from model output.

GDPFS Non-real-time Functions

• Preparation of special products for climate-related diagnosis (i.e. 10-day or 30-day means, summaries, frequencies and anomalies) on a global or regional scale;
• Intercomparison of analysis and forecast products, monitoring of observational data quality, verification of the accuracy of prepared forecast fields, diagnostic studies and NWP model development;
• Long-term storage of GOS data and GDPFS products, as well as verification results for operational and research use;
• Maintenance of a continuously updated catalogue of data and products stored in the system;
• Exchange between GDPFS centres of ad hoc information via distributed data bases;
• Conduct of workshops and seminars on the preparation and use of GDPFS output products.