WMO Integrated Global Observing System
Scope
WIGOS focuses on enhancing governance and management functions, mechanisms and activities to be accomplished by contributing observing systems to satisfy, in a sustained and cost-effective manner, the evolving observing requirements of Members in delivering their weather, climate, water and related environmental services.
WIGOS provides a framework for the integration, coordination and optimized evolution of existing observing systems, which will continue to be owned and operated by a diverse array of organizations and programmes.
It supports better use of existing and emerging observational capabilities of Members. Although aimed primarily at improving the WMO observing systems, it also interfaces with co-sponsored and non-WMO observing systems, thereby engaging the essential regional and national actors for the successful integration of these systems.
Objectives
WIGOS enables Members and their partners to better respond to natural hazards, improve weather, water, climate and related environmental monitoring, and to adapt to climate change and human-induced environmental impacts while providing avenues for education, training and capacity development. These objectives are at the very core of the mandate of WMO, and are particularly evident in the Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS).
Through the development of observing standards and recommendations, WIGOS supports the generation of quality-controlled products and information, thus underpinning the systematic development of needed infrastructure for effective climate, water and related environmental services.
The delivery of high-quality climate, water and related environmental services requires better coordinated and more comprehensive observing components that can be supplied only by National Meteorological and Hydrological Services working together with their national and international partners. WIGOS is to meet this need by providing compatible, quality-assured, quality-controlled, well-documented, and trusted long-term observations.
Following WIGOS initial operational phase 2020-2023, the evolution of WIGOS will continue, building upon and adding to the capabilities developed during its this phase.
One of the highest priorities for WIGOS during this period is the national WIGOS implementation, including necessary capacity development, partnership agreements and integration of observing systems for all application areas.
Structure
The WIGOS implementation and further evolution is an integrating activity of all WMO and co-sponsored observing systems. The WMO Executive Council and regional associations, supported by their respective working bodies, have a governing role in the implementation of WIGOS. Technical aspects of the WIGOS implementation are guided by the Infrastructure Commission.
From a national perspective, Members are responsible for all activities connected with the implementation and operation of WIGOS on the territories of their individual countries.
Components
The WIGOS component observing systems are the Global Observing System (GOS), the WMO Hydrological Observing System (WHOS) and the observing components of the Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) and of the Global Cryosphere Watch (GCW).
Global Observing System
The Global Observing System (GOS) is a coordinated system of networks of observing stations and platforms, together with methods, techniques, facilities and arrangements for making observations on a worldwide scale and defined as one of the main components of the World Weather Watch Programme.
Global Atmosphere
Watch The observing component of the Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) is a coordinated system of networks of observing stations, methods, techniques, facilities and arrangements encompassing the many monitoring and related scientific assessment activities devoted to the investigation of the changing chemical composition and related physical characteristics of the global atmosphere.
Global Atmosphere Watch Programme
WMO Hydrological Observing System
The WMO Hydrological Observing System (WHOS) comprises hydrological observations, initially focusing on water level and discharge. It also includes the World Hydrological Cycle Observing System Programme (WHYCOS) intended to improve basic observation activities, strengthen international cooperation and promote the free exchange of data in the field of hydrology.
Global Cryosphere Watch (GCW)
The observing component of the Global Cryosphere Watch (GCW) is a coordinated system of networks of observing stations, methods, techniques, facilities and arrangements encompassing monitoring and related scientific assessment activities devoted to the investigation of the changing Cryosphere. The GCW observing network and its standardized core network (CryoNet) shall build on existing observing programmes and promote the addition of standardized cryospheric observations to existing facilities.
Global Basic Observing Network (GBON)
Local weather forecasts depend on access to 24/7 global observations. But there are large geographical gaps in availability. In some parts of the world observations are either not made or not exchanged internationally, and in other parts they are not made or exchanged frequently enough.
The Global Basic Observing Network (GBON) is a fundamental element of WIGOS. It is a subset of the surface‑based subsystem of WIGOS that, used in combination with the space‑based subsystem and other surface‑based observing systems of WIGOS, contributes to meeting the requirements of Global NWP, including reanalysis in support of climate monitoring.
GBON paves the way for a radical overhaul of the international exchange of observational data, which underpin all weather, climate and water services and products. It contributes to the improvement of the availability of the most essential surface-based data, which have a direct positive impact on the quality of weather forecasts, thus helping improve the safety and well-being of citizens throughout the world.
GBON, as of September 2023, is composed of about 8300 surface stations and 750 stations.
For more information: Global Basic Observing Network (GBON)
Regional Basic Observing Network (RBON)
A prominent element of the WIGOS surface‑based subsystem is the Regional Basic Observing Network (RBON). The WMO Regional Associations define regional basic networks of surface‑based meteorological, hydrological and related observing stations/platforms meet the regional observational requirements The former Regional Basic Synoptic Network (RBSN) and Regional Basic Climatological Network (RBCN) in each Region, as well as former Antarctic Observing Network (AntON) in the Antarctic; were the predecessors of RBON. The previous focus on the requirements of synoptic meteorology and climate monitoring is now expanded to include all WMO application areas. Similarly, the network of synoptic and climatological stations is now expanded with the inclusion of other stations/platforms, for example, aircraft stations.
Vision for WIGOS in 2040
The Vision provides high-level targets to guide the evolution of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Integrated Global Observing System (WIGOS) in the coming decades. The aim of this document is to present a likely scenario of how user requirements for observational data may evolve in the WMO domain over the next couple of decades, and an ambitious, but technically and economically feasible vision for an integrated observing system that will meet them.
WIGOS Regulatory Material
1) Technical Regulations (WMO-No. 49), Volume I, Part I - WIGOS
2) Manual on WIGOS (WMO-No. 1160)
3) WIGOS Metadata Standard (WMO-No. 1192)
Suported by guidance material: Guide to WIGOS (WMO-No. 1165)