Weather, climate and the air we breathe - WMO

Fifty years ago ...
A messAge to meteorologists
At the close of the International
Geophysical Year (IGY), we would like
to express, on behalf of the World
Meteorological Organization, thanks
and appreciation to all meteorological
services of the world for their wholehearted
collaboration in this vast
project, which provides yet another
demonstration of the international spirit
for which meteorologists have long been
renowned. A special tribute must be
paid to the thousands of meteorological
observers throughout the world upon
whom the IGY imposed many additional
duties. We are confident that the same
enthusiastic support will continue until
A fuller version of “Fifty years ago” is
available in the WMO Bulletin online:
http://www.wmo.int/pages/publications/
bulletin_en/
the last of the forms containing the
meteorological observations has been
received at the WMO Secretariat, thus
completing the collection of data which
constitutes a unique contribution to
future developments in the science of
meteorology.
A. Viaut, President
D.A. Davies, Secretary-General
Contents
The January 1959 Bulletin carried
articles entitled “WMO and the
development of meteorology”,
“Meteorological problems in atomic
energy”, “An instrument for counting
local lightning flashes”, “World
meteorology: retrospect and prospect”
and “New British ocean weather ship”.
It also covered the second session
of the Commission for Agricultural
Meteorology, collaboration with
other international organizations,
International Geophysical Year,
activities of regional associations and
technical commissions and technical
assistance.
WMO and the
development of
meteorology
Achievements of
lasting importance
The immense tasks ... placed
before the Organization have been
successfully carried out, in spite of
relatively modest budgets, thanks
to the generous invitations from our
Members, the ability and unselfishness
of our experts and to hard work.
Most of the latter was the result of
unflagging devotion to duty on the
part of the Secretariat staff under the
leadership of the late G. Swoboda—
who was responsible for ensuring that
the vital transition from the former
IMO was made without a hitch—
and subsequently under that of the
dynamic D.A. Davies ...
Fortunately, all this effort was not
in vain. The many achievements of
which WMO has every right to be
proud include the following:
•
•
•
Establishment of the Technical
Regulations which—with the
barometer and radiosonde
comparisons—contribute to
the universal standardization of
meteorological procedures and
practices;
Publication of a large number of
Technical Notes and the Cloud
Atlas, the success of which has
exceeded all our expectations;
The continuous improvement
of the observing networks and
transmission channels, whose
efficiency and regularity could
serve as an example to other
branches of science which are
passing from the laboratory stage
to the synoptic stage long after
meteorology;
WMO Bulletin 58 (1) - January 2009 |