• Many of our activities rely heavily on international co-operation, for example, the gathering of observational information and the provision of forecasts for defence and aviation purposes.
  

• International exchange of data is essential to the work of all national meteorological services. The methodologies of making and exchanging observations are standardised, so the same parameters are measured in the same way and at agreed times globally.
  

• It has proved helpful and efficient for meteorologists to engage internationally in their research, education, training, technical methodologies, resource sharing, etc. From this has developed a range of international agencies and activities.
  

• With our long-established track record and our reputation for forward-thinking, we have been able to influence the development of meteorology, especially in Europe, and to help ensure the wider availability of data and products.

• Created mainly to help in the gathering of all meteorological and hydrological data.
  

• The World Weather Watch (WWW) is the core WMO programme, combining observing systems, telecommunications facilities and data processing centres - operated by Members to make available the meteorological and related geophysical information needed for efficient services in all the countries.
  

• The Voluntary Co-operation Programme (VCP) improves the network of observations across the globe by providing training and equipment to less well-developed national met services.

More about WMO

The Met Office has major involvements with European meteorological organisations.

• EUMETNET collaborates on the core activities of the national met services in Europe
  

• ECOMET deals with commercial activities
  

• ECMWF works on medium-range forecasts

• EUMETSAT deals with the European satellite programme (Meteosat)

• Unanimously adopted by WMO Congress in 1995
  

• Defines a framework which seeks to increase the international exchange of information, while at the same time recognising the requirement of some national met services (including the Met Office) to attract revenue from the commercial exploitation of such information.
  

• Allows for the setting of conditions on the use of certain information in order to prevent its re-exporting for commercial purposes outside of the receiving country.
  

See the official document WMO Resolution 40
Conditions on additional data and products originating from us
Our essential and additional data and products (PDF Format).