WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION

(WMO) French Organisation Mtoroligique Mondiale specialized agency of the United Nations created to promote the establishment of a worldwide meteorological observation system, the standardization and international exchange of observations, the application of meteorology to other fields, and the development of national meteorological services in less-developed countries. The WMO was preceded by the International Meteorological Organization, a nongovernmental organization of the heads of various national weather services founded in 1873. In 1947 a conference of these directors adopted the World Meteorological Convention, which provided for the establishment of a new organization. The World Meteorological Organization began operations in 1951. The World Meteorological Congress, consisting of representatives of all members, meets at least every four years and sets general policy and adopts regulations. A 29-member Executive Committee meets at least annually and implements general policy. The Secretariat, headquartered in Geneva, Switz., serves as the administrative centre of the organization. There are six regional associations in which members discuss problems peculiar to their regions. Various technical commissions have been instituted to investigate the applications of meteorology to agriculture, aeronautics, water resources, pollution control, oceanography, and several other fields.