Instruments and Methods of Observation Programme (IMOP)

The Instruments and Methods of Observation Programme (IMOP) sets technical standards and quality control procedures and provides guidance for the design, development and use of instruments and observation methods. The objectives of this programme are:  

• To promote development, documentation and the worldwide standardization of instruments and methods of observation to meet agreed user needs for observational data; and  
• To ensure the effective and economic use of instruments and methods of observation under varying working conditions and in differing technical infrastructures, by providing technical standards, guidance material, performance specifications, intercomparison reports, technology transfer and training assistance.

The programme embraces all instrumentation used to perform measurements within the WMO Integrated Global Observing System (WIGOS). It is carried out under the technical responsibility of the Standing Committee on Measurements, Instrumentation and Traceability (SC-MINT) of the Commission for Observation, Infrastructure and Information Systems (INFCOM).