WMO

WMO is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) with 193 Member States and Territories. It is the UN system's authoritative voice on the state and behaviour of the Earth's atmosphere, its interaction with the land and oceans, the weather and climate it produces and the resulting distribution of water resources.

Established in 1950, the WMO became a specialized agency of the United Nations in 1951. Finland has been a Member of WMO from the start. The Director General of FMI, Prof. Petteri Taalas, is the Permanent Representative of Finland to WMO.

The Organization plays a leading role in international efforts to monitor and protect the environment through its Programmes.

To decide on the Programmes, approve the general policies as well as the maximum expenditure for the financial period, The World Meteorological Congress, the supreme body of the Organization, composed of its 193 Members, meets every four year. Congress elects the President and Vice-Presidents of the Organization and members of the Executive Council and appoints the Secretary-General. An extra ordinary Congress meets every second year, but the elections take place at the ordinary Congress.

WMO has two technical commissions and a Research Board composed of experts designated by Members, to study matters within their specific areas of competence. Finland is represented in the Technical Commissions.

ECMWF, the European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts

The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) is an intergovernmental organisation supported by 34 states. The organisation was established in 1975. Finland has been a member of ECMWF since its formation in 1975. ECMWF produces global numerical weather models for the provision of medium range, monthly and seasonal forecasts by the Member and Co-operating States and the broader community. The Centre has one of the largest supercomputer facilities and meteorological data archives in the world. It carries out scientific and technical research, directed at the development of numerical models and data-assimilation system and provides Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring and Climate Change services on behalf of the EC The decision-making body of the ECMWF is Council, which is composed of delegates from the Member States and meets twice a year. The Director General of FMI is a Member of the Council and Finland is also represented in all the Advisory Groups.

EUMETSAT, the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites

The membership in the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) allows us the real time receiving of weather and climate-related satellite data, images and products– 24 hours a day. It also gives us the possibility to participate in its several research programmes. The FMI is hosting the Ozone research programme. EUMETSAT is an international organisation and was founded in 1986. Finland has been a member since the beginning. The decision-making body of the Organization is the Council, which is composed of delegates from the Member States and meets twice a year. The Director General of FMI is a Member of the Council and Finland is also represented in all the Advisory Groups .

EUMETNET

GIE/EIG EUMETNET is a network grouping of 31 European National Meteorological Services. EUMETNET provides a framework to organise co-operative programmes between the Members in the various fields of basic meteorological activities such as observing systems, data processing, basic forecasting products, research and development, training. Through EUMETNET Programmes, the Members intend to develop their collective capability to serve environment management and climate monitoring and to bring to all European users the best available quality of meteorological information. They will use EUMETNET to more efficiently manage their collective resources and gain the critical mass. FMI has been a Member of EUMETNET since the beginning in 1996.