The NWS Volunteer Observing Ship (VOS) Program and the Port Meteorological Officers Work to Bring High Quality In-Situ Oceanic Observations from Ships at Sea

Port Meteorological Officers (PMOs) support observing programs aboard Voluntary Observing Ships. They are responsible for recruitment of new vessels as observers, and also for ensuring the quality of observations from vessels actively participating in the program. PMOs spend a major part of their time visiting ships, primarily assisting deck officers with marine weather observation practices, weather codes, and report transmission procedures. You may not be familiar with the title Port Meteorological Officer (PMO), but if you want to create an accurate analysis from which you can build a forecast, or you are a climatologist looking to do research on oceanic atmospheric conditions, you should be! What is a Port Meteorological Officer? What do they do for NOAA/NWS and the weather, water, and climate enterprise? How do they accomplish their mission? You will soon know the answers to these questions and potentially find new allies in receiving quality oceanic observations."