In recent decades, great advances have
been made in our understanding of the
role of the polar regions in the global
climate system. The shrinking of sea-ice,
melting of ice sheets, the discharge of
glaciers and the thawing of permafrost
are all dramatic changes that have taken
place in those regions. Those changes are
of importance for the entire Earth system,
in particular for climate.
“Polar meteorology; understanding
global impacts” has been selected as the
theme for World Meteorological Day on
23 March 2007.
The International Polar Year (IPY) 2007-
2008, initiated jointly by the World
Meteorological Organization (WMO) and
the International Council for Science, will
foster an intensive burst of internationally
coordinated, interdisciplinary, scientific
research and observations in the
Arctic and the Antarctic. These will
provide invaluable input for the
assessment of climate change and
variability and its impacts.
Weather, climate and water have a major
impact on people’s daily lives and on
nations’ sustainable socio-economic
development. Therefore, accurate
observations and predictions about
weather, climate and water provided
by the National Meteorological and
Hydrological Services of WMO’s 187
Members, are of vital importance, in
particular for preventing and mitigating
natural disasters.
WMO is the United Nations’ authoritative
voice on weather, climate and water.
M.Jarraud
Secretary-General
World Meteorological Organization |
