Guide to the Global Observing System, 2010 edition Updated in 2012.

Abstract

The main purpose of the Guide is to provide practical information on the development, organization, implementation and operation of the Global Observing System in order to enhance both the participation of individual Members in the System and the benefits they may obtain from it. The Guide explains and describes Global Observing System practices, procedures and specifications and is aimed at assisting the technical and administrative staff of National Meteorological Services responsible for the networks of observing stations in preparing national instructions for observers. The first edition of the Guide on the Global Observing System was completed in 1977 as the result of a decision adopted by the WMO Commission for Basic Systems at its sixth session, held in Belgrade in 1974. Since then, it has undergone a number of revisions and amendments. These have been consolidated into this new revised edition. The present edition contains the amendments adopted by the Commission for Basic Systems at its fourteenth session held in Dubrovnik, Croatia, from 25 March to 2 April 2009, as included in the annexes to Recommendations 2 (CBS-XIV) and 3 (CBS-XIV), and endorsed by the Executive Council at its sixtyfirst session in June 2009 in Resolution 6 (EC-LXI). The Guide supplements the regulatory material on observational matters contained in the Technical Regulations (WMO-No. 49) and the Manual on the Global Observing System (WMO-No. 544) and, for ease of reference, follows roughly the same structure as the Manual. The Guide also complements the Guide to Meteorological Instruments and Methods of Observation (WMO-No. 8), while the Guide on the Global Data-processing System (WMO-No. 305) is used to complement the present Guide.