WMO’s Efforts for Open Access to Environmental Satellite Data. Report from the First WMO Core Satellite Data Workshop

The 2021 Extraordinary World Meteorological Congress approved the WMO Unified Data Policy, emphasizing the importance of free and unrestricted data exchange for effective weather and climate monitoring. As a specialized agency of the United Nations, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) recognizes the significance of international cooperation in addressing future challenges related to critical weather data and Earth system monitoring from space. To further support this endeavor, WMO has collaborated with Space Agencies and stakeholders to define the "core" space-based observations that should be shared freely and without restrictions.

In line with these efforts, the 2023 WMO Core Satellite Data Workshop was held in Geneva, Switzerland. The workshop aimed to address the obstacles associated with accessing and sharing satellite data collected by different countries. The event featured invited guest speakers and contributed papers focusing on the crucial role of free and unrestricted exchange of observational data in meeting the increasing demand for accurate weather and climate information in the face of climate change and extreme weather events. They reviewed existing data-sharing policies, identified a preliminary list of core and recommended satellite data for Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP), and explored ways to enhance data exchange practices. The workshop's outcomes will be integrated into the Manual on the WMO Integrated Global Observing System.

This talk welcomes researchers, scientists, policymakers, and other stakeholders to discuss and exchange knowledge on the challenges and advancements in international data exchange of the environmental satellite data.