Bureau joins a global hub for weather information exchange
22/04/2013
The Bureau of Meteorology has launched its Global Information System Centre in Melbourne, which supports greater access to a huge volume of data that was previously unavailable.
Bureau of Meteorology Acting Deputy Director for Research and Systems, Dr Sue Barrell, said this data sharing platform would vastly expand the exchange of information globally through the United Nations World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
“The WMO Information System makes it easier to find and use global meteorological observations and products, and to share them with a wide variety of stakeholders,” Dr Barrell said.
“The Global Information System Centre in Melbourne will now contribute to a global information system, which aids the rapid exchange of data, allowing for continuous and reliable access to an expanded set of data across weather, climate, water and environmental information.
“Australia already derives enormous value from the free and open global exchange of data with WMO member nations. Without access to global datasets the Bureau could not undertake its global numeric weather prediction models, which are at the core of its forecasting services.
“Comprehensive weather satellite coverage of Australia and the Pacific region is used in the forecasting of tropical cyclone warnings, another example of how data is absorbed and becomes a valuable asset in the delivery of essential services to the public,” Dr Barrell said.
“The net benefit of this will be increased knowledge and enhanced services in weather, climate, water and environmental information – particularly valuable for the research community, but also in planning for disaster mitigation or sustainable economic development as examples.
According to Dr Barrell, Global Information System Centres connect to each other through a high speed private telecommunication network.
Through the Global Information System Centre in Melbourne, Australia is making a valuable contribution to the United Nation’s World Meteorological Orgnanization Information System, joining other countries including China, UK, Germany, Japan, France and the Republic of Korea.
As the single coordinated global infrastructure responsible for data communications and data management functions, the World Meteorological Organization is responsible for the strategy for managing and exchanging weather, water and climate information in the 21st century.
For further information go to WMO Information System.
