World Meteorological Organization

SOT - The Ship Observations Team (SOT)

The work of the SOT consists of a collection of very successful and enduring data collection programmes, involving voluntary observing ships and ships of opportunity operated through the following programmes which have supported a number of research and operational applications over many years. They provide for surface meteorological observations, aerological soundings using balloons, and surface and sub-surface oceanographic measurements.

• SOT Annual reports
• SOT Terms of Reference
• SOT contact points (Team, Panels, etc.)
• Port Meteorological Officers (PMO) Contact information
• The Voluntary Observing Ships (VOS) scheme
• The Automated Shipboard Aerological Programme (ASAP)
• The Ship Of Opportunity Programme (SOOP)

The SOT is achieving substancial part of its workplan during intersessional periods through a number of Task Teams:

• Task Team on VOS Metadata
• Task Team on SOOP Metadata
• Task Team on Instrument Standards and Satellite Communications Systems
• Task Team on Recruitment, Promotion and Training
• Task Team on High-resolution Marine Meteorology
• Task Team on Callsign Masking and Encoding
• Task Team on the ASAP
  
  See the SOT web site for additional information.