UN To Set World Meteorological Data Standards

UN Signs Accord To Set International Standards For Meteorological Data

New York, Sep 17 2008 2:10PM

The United Nations World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) have signed an agreement to cooperate in setting international standards for meteorological and hydrological data, products and services.

The new procedures will “clarify the authority of WMO documents and enhance their international recognition and dissemination,” WMO Secretary-General Michel Jarraud said at yesterday’s signing ceremony in Geneva. “This will be of particular importance to the activities of national hydrological and meteorological ῳervices in addressing standard issues.

ISO Secretary General Alan Bryden hailed the agreement as an illustration of the increasing collaboration between the UN System and his organization, as well as of the contribution of international standards to responding to the challenges of climate change.

The WMO already has liaison status with nearly 30 of ISO's technical committees developing standards with relevance to hydrometry, air quality, water quality, soil quality, geographic information, solar energy, petroleum and gas industry, information technologies, marine, quantities and units.

The arrangements aim to strengthen the development of international standards and avoid duplication related to meteorological, climatological, hydrological, marine and related environmental data, products and services.

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