The Value of Surface-based Meteorological Observation Data
Weather forecasting generates significant societal benefits, which can be increased by improving accuracy and lead-time through better meteorological monitoring, modeling and computing. Forecasting relies on numerical weather prediction (NWP),...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Working Paper |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
World Bank, Washington, DC
2021
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/192461614151036836/The-Value-of-Surface-based-Meteorological-Observation-Data http://hdl.handle.net/10986/35178 |
| Summary: | Weather forecasting generates
significant societal benefits, which can be increased by
improving accuracy and lead-time through better
meteorological monitoring, modeling and computing.
Forecasting relies on numerical weather prediction (NWP),
which is significantly impacted by the availability of
meteorological observations, with space-based observations
being the most important. Surface-based observations also
contribute substantially to NWP performance, but current
availability in Antarctica, Africa, South America, the
Pacific and parts of Asia is insufficient. More observations
from these regions would improve global NWP and forecasting
quality, particularly in the data-sparse regions themselves,
but also over the rest of the globe. It is estimated that
improvements in the coverage and exchange of surface-based
observations to meet the World Meteorological Organization’s
Global Basic Observing Network (GBON) specification can
deliver additional global socioeconomic benefits of over
five billion annually. This is a conservative estimate
omitting non-financial benefits such as potential lives
saved and improvements to well-being, so underestimates the
full benefits, particularly for developing countries.
Investing in improving surface-based observations in data
sparse regions is also highly economically efficient,
yielding a global benefit to cost ratio of over twenty-five.
Assuming sufficient observational coverage, international
data exchange is a very efficient multiplier of the value of
observations. However, exchange is currently insufficient
across all regions. In view of the growing climate- and
weather-related challenges facing humanity and recognizing
that climate services similarly rely on meteorological
monitoring, surface-based observations should be treated as
a critical public good, with public oversight and open
exchange within the meteorological and climatological communities. |
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