Just Earth News 24 Mar 2017, 02:05 am Print
WMO
“If we want to forecast weather we have to understand clouds. If we want to model the climate system we have to understand clouds. And if we want to predict the availability of water resources, we have to understand clouds,” said said World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Secretary-General Petteri Taalas.
World Meteorological Day commemorates the coming into force on 23 March 1950 of the convention establishing the WMO. This year's theme is “Understanding Clouds.”
In conjunction with the Day, WMO on Thursday launched for the first time a primarily on-line digital edition of the International Cloud Atlas, which features hundreds of images and information about clouds, as well as meteorological marvels, such as rainbows and halos.
The new Atlas “combines 19th century traditions with 21st century technology,” the UN agency said, noting that the International Cloud Atlas was first published some 200 years ago.
It contains pictures, definitions, and explanations that are accepted and used by all of WMO's 191 members, as well as all types of measurements from space and through remote sensing.
For example, the Atlas includes “volutus, a roll cloud; clouds from human activities such as the contrail, a vapour trail sometimes produced by airplanes; and asperitas, a dramatic undulated cloud which captured the public imagination,” according to WMO.
In his message for the Day, Taalas noted the importance of understanding weather and climate changes in protecting people and property, and assisting communities to become more resilient.
- Scientists warn April 2024 was the hottest on record
- Rapidly warming Indian Ocean hurtling towards near-permanent marine heatwave state
- UN official urge swift action to tackle El-Nino-induced extreme weather
- Conservation actions are effective at halting and reversing biodiversity loss, new study finds
- UN officials launch global campaign to combat climate emergency