Coordination Group for Meteorological Satellites

The Coordination Group for Meteorological Satellites (CGMS) is an international organization created in 1972[1][2] to coordinate the satellite systems that support global operational meteorology.[3]

Coordination Group for Meteorological Satellites
AbbreviationCGMS
FormationSeptember 19, 1972 (1972-09-19)
TypeNon-binding international charter
HeadquartersPermanent secretariat at EUMETSAT, Darmstadt, Germany
Websitewww.cgms-info.org

Description

edit

CGMS came into being on 19 September 1972, when representatives of the European Space Research Organisation (since 1975 the European Space Agency), Japan, the United States of America, and observers from the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and the Joint Planning Staff for the Global Atmospheric Research Programme, met in Washington to discuss questions of compatibility among geostationary meteorological satellites. Since the formation the mandate of CGMS has been extended to include Low Earth Orbit meteorological satellites and to cover other areas of operational space-based environmental monitoring as well as space weather observations from satellites.[4]

The objectives of CGMS are formally laid down in its charter[5]

As of 2021 CGMS has as members 14 national and intergovernmental space agencies, as well as the World Meteorological Organisation and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission:[6]

CGMS Members
Organisation Full Name Year of Accession
CMA China Meteorological Administration 1989
CNES Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales 2004
CNSA China National Space Administration 2006
ESA The European Space Agency 2003
EUMETSAT European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites 1987
IMD India Meteorological Department 1979
IOC-UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission - UNESCO 2001
ISRO Indian Space Research Organisation 2015
JAXA Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency 2003
JMA Japan Meteorological Agency 1972
KMA Korea Meteorological Administration 2005
NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration 2003
NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 1972
ROSCOSMOS Russian Federal Space Agency 2003
ROSHYDROMET Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring of Russia 1973
WMO World Meteorological Organization 1973

CGMS activities

edit

CGMS coordinates the operational satellite systems of its members in an end-to-end fashion as required to facilitate and develop shared access to and use of satellite data and products in various application area, including operational meteorology. The activities cover:

  • Operational Continuity and Contingency Planning
  • Coordination of Satellite Systems, Frequencies and Operations
  • Coordination of Data Access and End User Support
  • Enhancement of the quality of satellite-derived data and Products
  • Monitoring of Climate including Greenhouse Gases
  • Space Weather Monitoring
  • Outreach and training activities

The medium term targets of CGMS are reflected in the CGMS High-Level Priority Plan.[7] The HLPP is a rolling 5-year plan, revised annually by the CGMS plenary session.

References

edit
  1. ^ "Coordination Group on Meteorological Satellites meets". World Meteorological Organization. 2019-05-24. Retrieved 2021-07-30.
  2. ^ "Coordination Group for Meteorological Satellites". Union of International Associations. 2019. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  3. ^ "Coordination Group for Meteorological Satellites | Knowledge for policy". knowledge4policy.ec.europa.eu. Retrieved 2021-07-30.
  4. ^ "Progress report on the work of the Expert Group on Space Weather at the 58th session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space" (PDF). UNOOSA. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  5. ^ "CGMS charter" (PDF). CGMS. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  6. ^ "CGMS Members and Observers". CGMS. Archived from the original on 2021-08-09. Retrieved 2021-08-09.
  7. ^ "CGMS High Level Priority Plan (HLPP)". CGMS. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
edit