International Collaboration in Meteorological Satellite Systems

Abstract

Weather systems move across national boundaries and do not recognize political borders. Global cooperation in data collection processing and dissemination of meteorological data and products is needed in order to predict weather and to provide early warnings of severe weather-related phenomena. Such international cooperation can potentially save lives and minimize damage to property. Sharing of data products is key to improving forecasts and early warnings for nations, diverse economic sectors, and individuals. International meteorological cooperation is thus important for better risk management, as well as for managing the impacts of climate change. In order to predict weather, modern meteorology relies on near instantaneous exchange of weather information and observations across the entire globe.

“The atmospheric sciences require worldwide observations and, hence, international cooperation … we shall propose further cooperative efforts between all nations in weather prediction and eventually in weather control. We shall propose, finally, a global system of satellite linking the whole world in telegraph, telephone, radio and television.”

—President John F. Kennedy (U. N. General Assembly, September 25, 1961)