Kingdom of Morocco's National Agency of Meteorology

Kingdom of Morocco's National Agency of Meteorology
Name	Kingdom of Morocco's National Agency of Meteorology
Native name	Agence Nationale de la Météorologie
Formed	1956
Jurisdiction	Kingdom of Morocco
Headquarters	Rabat
Chief1 name	(Director General)
Agency type	National meteorological service

Kingdom of Morocco's National Agency of Meteorology is the national meteorological service responsible for weather observation, forecasting, climate monitoring, and hydrometeorological warnings in the Kingdom of Morocco. The agency operates a network of surface stations, upper-air facilities, radar and satellite reception, and issues forecasts that inform sectors such as agriculture, aviation, maritime navigation, and civil protection. It works with regional, continental and global bodies to implement standards and exchange data for modeling, climate services, and disaster risk reduction.

History

The agency traces roots to colonial-era observatories and post-independence institutions established after Morocco's independence alongside entities such as the Ministry of Interior (Morocco), King Hassan II, and municipal services in Rabat, Casablanca, and Tangier. Early collaborations involved the Institut National de Recherche Agronomique (INRA) and ports like Port of Casablanca for maritime meteorology. During the Cold War era the agency engaged with programs linked to the World Meteorological Organization, United Nations Development Programme, and bilateral partnerships with the French Meteorological Service (Météo-France), Spanish State Meteorological Agency (AEMET), and research institutes in Germany, United Kingdom, United States, and Japan. Modernization accelerated after the 1992 Rio Earth Summit and the adoption of frameworks such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and participation in Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change assessments, prompting investments in radar networks and climate monitoring that aligned with initiatives by the African Union and Arab League.

Organization and Governance

The agency reports administratively to national bodies including the Ministry of Equipment, Transport, Logistics and Water and coordinates with the High Commission for Planning (Morocco), National Office of Electricity and Drinking Water (ONEE), and the Royal Gendarmerie for civil protection operations. Governance includes a Director General and technical councils that liaise with academic partners such as Mohammed V University, Hassan II University, Ibn Tofail University, and research centers like the National Institute of Agricultural Research (INRA) and the Scientific Institute (Rabat). Regulatory interaction occurs with aviation authorities such as the Office National des Aéroports (ONDA) and maritime regulators including the Ministry of Equipment and Transport. The agency participates in national emergency frameworks coordinated with the Ministry of Interior (Morocco), Ministry of Health (Morocco), and regional prefectures.

Functions and Services

Core services include synoptic forecasting, marine and aeronautical meteorology for clients such as Royal Air Maroc, Port Tanger Med, and the Casablanca Stock Exchange indirectly through economic continuity planning. The agency supplies agro-meteorological advisories to organizations including Ministry of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development and Water and Forests and cooperatives linked to Office Cherifien des Phosphates (OCP), and supports sectors like tourism hubs in Marrakesh, Agadir, and Essaouira. It provides climatological datasets for researchers at institutes such as the National Meteorological Research Center and international programs like the Global Climate Observing System. Services cover specialized forecasts for Royal Moroccan Armed Forces exercises, search and rescue operations coordinated with International Maritime Organization, and hydrological bulletins used by the Agency for Hydraulic Basin Planning.

Observational Network and Infrastructure

The observational network integrates surface synoptic stations, automatic weather stations located across regions including Souss-Massa, Fès-Meknès, Oriental (region), and the Draa-Tafilalet; upper-air sounding sites, weather radars near urban centers such as Casablanca and Tangier, and satellite reception stations collaborating with providers like EUMETSAT and NOAA. Infrastructure projects have been funded via partnerships with World Bank, African Development Bank, European Union programs, and bilateral aid from France, Spain, and Japan. The agency maintains marine observation buoys in cooperation with port authorities at Rabat, Safi, and Agadir, and exchanges Automatic Weather Station data with networks like GCOS and BUFR-compatible centers. Maintenance and calibration are performed using standards from the World Meteorological Organization and equipment from vendors in Germany, United States, France, and China.

Forecasting and Research

Forecast production leverages numerical weather prediction models including regional configurations of WRF, global outputs from ECMWF, and data assimilation systems using observations from GTS, METOP, and GOES satellites. Research collaborations link the agency with universities such as Cadi Ayyad University and international laboratories at Météo-France, Max Planck Institute for Meteorology, National Center for Atmospheric Research, and Institut Pierre-Simon Laplace. Studies focus on climate variability, drought in the Sahel, Mediterranean storm systems affecting Alboran Sea, and impacts on agriculture and water resources. The agency contributes data to CORDEX-Africa experiments and regional climate downscaling used by projects funded by UNDP and GIZ.

International Cooperation and Agreements

The agency is a member service of the World Meteorological Organization and participates in bilateral agreements with Météo-France, AEMET, Met Office (UK), Deutscher Wetterdienst, NOAA, and Japan Meteorological Agency. It engages in Mediterranean climate initiatives like MedECC and African programs such as ACMAD and AGRHYMET, and contributes to WMO Regional Association VI activities. Cooperation extends to disaster risk reduction frameworks under UNISDR and climate adaptation projects aligned with Green Climate Fund proposals, and data exchange under WIS protocols.

Public Outreach and Emergency Warning Systems

Public communication channels include national weather bulletins, mobile alerts coordinated with the Ministry of Interior (Morocco) and local prefectures, and media partnerships with broadcasters such as SNRT and private outlets in Casablanca and Rabat. The agency operates early warning services for floods, heat waves, and storms, informing emergency responders including the Royal Gendarmerie and municipal civil protection units. Outreach programs collaborate with educational institutions like Al Akhawayn University and NGOs focused on climate resilience such as Global Environment Facility-supported projects, and participate in public campaigns with the Ministry of Health (Morocco) to reduce heat-related morbidity.

Category:Meteorological agencies