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| WMO Regional Office for Asia and the Southwest Pacific | |
|---|---|
| Name | WMO Regional Office for Asia and the Southwest Pacific |
| Region served | Asia and the Southwest Pacific |
| Parent organization | World Meteorological Organization |
WMO Regional Office for Asia and the Southwest Pacific The WMO Regional Office for Asia and the Southwest Pacific serves as a regional arm of the World Meteorological Organization coordinating meteorological, hydrological and climate activities across a diverse set of member states and territories including parts of Asia, Oceania, Southeast Asia and the South Pacific. It liaises with international bodies such as the United Nations, World Health Organization, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, United Nations Development Programme and regional agencies including the Asian Development Bank and Pacific Islands Forum to strengthen early warning, climate services and disaster risk reduction. The office supports capacity building with partners like Japan Meteorological Agency, Australian Bureau of Meteorology, China Meteorological Administration, Indian Meteorological Department and Meteo-France.
The Regional Office for Asia and the Southwest Pacific operates within the governance framework of the World Meteorological Organization and connects national meteorological and hydrological services such as Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, Bureau of Meteorology (Australia), National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, Korea Meteorological Administration, Vietnam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration and Malaysia Meteorological Department with global initiatives like the Global Framework for Climate Services and the Global Climate Observing System. It bridges operational centers including the Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre (RSMC) Tokyo and research institutions such as the International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research and Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology.
The office was established as part of WMO decentralization efforts following deliberations at the World Meteorological Congress and sessions of the WMO Executive Council to enhance regional service delivery. Its evolution was influenced by major events including the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, the 1997–1998 El Niño event, the Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) response and the adoption of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction by the United Nations General Assembly. Foundational collaborations drew on expertise from the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission and the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites.
The office’s mandate aligns with core WMO programmes: the World Weather Watch, Global Atmosphere Watch, Climate Information and Prediction Services, Hydrology and Water Resources Programme and the Public Weather Services Programme. It facilitates implementation of services for tropical cyclone forecasting centers, tsunami warning systems used by Pacific Tsunami Warning Center and Japan Meteorological Agency, seasonal outlooks in partnership with NOAA entities such as the Climate Prediction Center and marine services collaborating with Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission. The office supports standards promulgated by the International Civil Aviation Organization for meteorological information for aviation and coordinates with the International Maritime Organization on marine meteorology.
Members comprise national meteorological and hydrological services from countries including Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, New Zealand, Thailand and Pacific island states such as Vanuatu, Samoa, Tuvalu and Kiribati. Governance mechanisms mirror WMO structures with regional associations, technical commissions and advisory groups informed by stakeholders like Asian Development Bank, United Nations Environment Programme, the World Bank and regional entities such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the South Pacific Community. The regional office convenes regional meetings, expert teams and the regional congress linked to the WMO Congress.
Key initiatives include implementation of the Global Framework for Climate Services in agriculture and water sectors, regional early warning systems in line with the Sendai Framework, capacity building via the WMO Voluntary Cooperation Programme, and modernization projects supported by donors including Japan International Cooperation Agency, United States Agency for International Development, European Union instruments and the Green Climate Fund. Technical programs address observational networks such as the Global Atmosphere Watch stations, radiosonde deployments, Doppler radar networks, and marine observing systems collaborating with Argo (oceanography), Drifter Program and Jason (satellite altimetry). Research partnerships involve World Climate Research Programme, Asian Development Bank climate risk assessments, International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development for Himalayan hydrology, and the Tropical Cyclone Programme.
The office partners with regional centers and research bodies including the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, ASEAN Specialized Meteorological Centre, South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, Asian Disaster Preparedness Center, Marine Meteorology and Oceanography community, and university networks like University of the South Pacific, National University of Singapore, Indian Institute of Science and Peking University. It engages with operational centers such as RSMC New Delhi, RSMC Tokyo, Joint Typhoon Warning Center, Pacific Tsunami Warning Center and agencies like NOAA and European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts for model exchange, data sharing and coordinated warnings.
The regional office hosts technical specialists in meteorology, hydrology, climate services, disaster risk reduction and capacity development, coordinating technical cooperation, training and information management with partners like the WMO Regional Training Centre network, United Nations Office for Project Services and Asian Disaster Risk Reduction Center. Located to maximize access to member states and partner hubs, it works closely with national capitals, regional secretariats and international organizations including the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme and donor agencies to implement regional priorities.
Category:World Meteorological Organization Category:International meteorological organizations Category:Asia-Pacific organizations