THE GLOBAL BASIC OBSERVING NETWORK (GBON)

CLOSING DATA GAPS IN THE GLOBAL BASIC OBSERVING NETWORK

The current gaps in global surface-based data significantly impact the quality of weather and climate services locally, regionally, and globally.

In 2021, 193 members of the World Meteorological Organization agreed to a set of global standards, known as the landmark Global Basic Observing Network (GBON) agreement.

SOFF was created to support the implementation of the GBON requirements by providing long-term financial and technical assistance to support the generation and international sharing of basic weather and climate observations.

Global Basic Observing Network (GBON)

Observe and monitor

The Global Basic Observing Network (GBON) is a fundamental element of the WMO Integrated Global Observing System that responds to the geographical inconsistencies in the availability of internationally exchanged data, in support of weather forecasts. GBON introduces a new approach in which the basic surface-based observing network implemented by WMO Members is designed, defined, and monitored at the global level. GBON works to improve the availability of the essential surface-based  observational data, which are expected to enhance the quality of weather forecasts, thus helping improve the safety and well-being of citizens throughout the world and bring socioeconomic benefits. 

GBON is a radical overhaul of the international exchange of observational data, which underpins all weather, climate, and water services and products. The Systematic Observations Financing Facility (SOFF) also facilitates implementation of GBON in the Least Developed Countries and the Small Island Developing States to generate and internationally exchange the required GBON station data.

WMO Integrated Global Observing System (WIGOS)

The Global Basic Observing Network (GBON) paves the way for a radical overhaul of the international exchange of observational data, which underpin all weather, climate and water services and products.

Local weather forecasts depend on access to 24/7 global observations. But there are large geographical gaps in availability. In some parts of the world, observations are either not made or not exchanged internationally, and in other parts, they are not made or exchanged frequently enough.

GBON is a fundamental element of WIGOS. It represents a new approach in which the basic surface-based observing network is designed, defined, and monitored at the global level. Once implemented, GBON will enhance the availability of essential surface-based data, resulting in a direct positive impact on weather forecast quality and, consequently, improving the safety and well-being of citizens worldwide.

Following 2021 Extraordinary World Meteorological Congress decisions, the following activities have been initiated:

1)   GBON Implementation and compliance monitoring: Technical Regulations for GBON will come into force on 1 January 2023. The Infrastructure Commission is tasked to develop technical guidelines, processes and procedures needed to ensure expedient and efficient implementation of GBON, and to prepare for effective performance and compliance monitoring of GBON. GBON can be implemented relatively quickly by most WMO Members in the developed world. But in many developing countries, additional investment and capacity development will be needed. To that en,d WMO will be working closely with the international development and climate finance communities.

2)    GBON expansion in other domains: Today, GBON Technical Regulations are based on the requirements of Global Numerical Weather Prediction and Climate Data re-Analysis. The Infrastructure Commission is investigating the expansion of GBON in other domains, starting with hydrology and cryosphere, and then climate monitoring, ocean, and atmospheric composition. This is a longer effort, and principles for GBON expansion are being developed to be followed by roadmaps for specific domains.

Useful links:

• Cg-Ext(2021): Introductory presentations on WMO Unified Data Policy, GBON and SOFF and GBON
• Cg-Ext(2021): Resolutions on WMO Unified Data Policy (Res.1), GBON (Res.2) and SOFF (Res.3)
• Systematic Observations Financing Facility

Further Resources:

• GBON Concept, GBON Executive Summary
• GBON video: Arabic   Chinese   English   French   Russian   Spanish

Contributions

The work of the Systematic Observations Financing Facility are possible thanks to the generous contributions by public and private sector partners
Systematic Observations Financing Facility

Africa

Systematic Observations Financing Facility (SOFF) [C139]

status active

The Systematic Observations Financing Facility (SOFF) is a new initiative with the overall objective to strengthen climate adaptation and resilient development through data collection, processing and availability that will improve weather forecasts, early warning systems and climate information services. SOFF will provide finance and technical assistance to countries in order to improve their hydromet network, data collection, processing and sharing.

REGION
Multiple regions

PROJECT REFERENCE
NDF C139

DURATION
2022 to 2025 (first phase of a 10-year initiative)

NDF FINANCING
EUR 10 million

FINANCING TYPE
Grant

IMPLEMENTING AGENCY
World Meteorological Organisation (WMO)

NDF CONTACT
Jacob Lorentzen (jacob.lorentzen@ndf.int)

Objective

SOFF is a global initiative to address a persistent problem in a global and systematic manner – missing surface-based weather and climate observations from the Least Developed Countries (LDC) and Small Islands Developing States (SIDS). The initiative has an exclusive focus on the initial part of the meteorological value chain that creates the foundation for effective policy and investment decisions at local levels. SOFF provides finance and technical assistance to countries in order to improve their hydromet network, data collection, processing and sharing.

The Global Basic Observation Network (GBON) is an internationally agreed global design and corresponding metrics. GBON clearly defines countries’ international data exchange obligations for the most essential surface-based weather and climate data. The SOFF investments will be guided by GBON metrics. SOFF provides the resources for beneficiary countries to close the GBON gap. In other words, GBON metrics ensure the appropriate level of investments, and SOFF delivers these investments through an integrated and coherent intervention.

The overarching SOFF goal is to contribute to strengthening climate adaptation and resilient development through better data availability to improve weather forecasts, early warning systems and climate information services that save lives and livelihoods and protect property. SOFF will contribute to delivering critical observations needed for adaptation and resilience planning. Weather and climate prediction products are essential to ensure that countries can design and implement meaningful and effective adaptation and resilient development programmes. The first phase of SOFF has three components:

Component 1: Readiness. The objective is that a country’s GBON gap is defined, and a plan to close the GBON gap developed and verified.

Component 2: Investments. The objective is that GBON compliance is achieved in line with the verified GBON plan through SOFF-funded infrastructure and capacity development investments to eligible countries (SIDS and LDCs).

Component 3: Compliance. The objective is that countries operate and maintain the basic surface-based observation network and the international sharing of data in full compliance with GBON regulations.

SOFF is a long-term initiative to establish the GBON in all parts of the world. The first phase will test the intervention logic, establish the working model, and have the first group of countries achieve compliance with GBON requirements.

Outcomes

The main outcomes would be improved weather and climate prediction products and that the participating LDCs and SIDS achieve sustained compliance with the GBON. The SOFF project will significantly increase the number of people benefiting from established or improved weather and climate services. This will contribute to the goal of strengthened climate adaptation and resilient development through improved weather forecasts, early warning systems and climate information services crucial to save lives and livelihoods and protect property.

SOFF will contribute to delivering critical observation needed for adaptation and resilience planning. Weather and climate prediction products are essential to ensure that countries can design and implement meaningful and effective adaptation and resilient development programmes.

SOFF will also contribute to improving the global understanding of past and current climate and the ability to predict and project future climate scenarios. The increased international exchange of observations that will be achieved through SOFF support in SIDS and LDCs will contribute to the substantial improvement of the forecasting and climate reanalysis products delivered by Global Producing Centres.

Financing

The target size of the SOFF is EUR 200 million for the first three years. NDF will provide EUR 10 million and co-financing partners include Austria, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Ireland and others.