Closing the gap in observations

A chain is only as strong as its weakest link.

Weather forecasts depend on access to 24/7 global observations. But there are large geographical gaps.

Many stations in Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States are either non-operational or reporting inconsistently. This results in significant data gaps, especially in Africa where surface station density is far below global standards, reducing forecast accuracy not only locally but globally.

To address the challenge, WMO’s Global Basic Observing Network  paves the way for a radical overhaul of the international exchange of observational data, which underpin all weather, climate and water services and products. Better data means better preparedness, allowing countries to save lives and safeguard livelihoods.

The Systematic Observations Financing Facility (SOFF) provides long-term financial and technical support to ensure Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing states, can generate and exchange internationally required observations on a sustained basis.

Closing the essential weather and climate data gap can reduce errors in weather forecasts by 30 per cent in Africa and 20% in the Pacific, according to an impact experiment study by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts.

And, according to the World Bank, these improvements could generate US$ 5 billion in direct annual benefits and unlock US$ 160 billion in wider economic gains across key sectors such as agriculture, energy, water, and transport.

There are also gaps in the wider Earth observation network.

The Global Climate Observing System and its partner, the Global Ocean Observing System, are facing gaps in the in-situ networks, ongoing funding challenges and barriers to data access.

We need to close the gaps. Now.