The scientific stratospheric balloons are flown out of Antarctica. The South
Pole Observatory (SPO) is at the geographic South Pole on the Antarctic plateau
at an elevation of 2,837 m (9,300 ft) above sea level. It was established in 1957 as
part of the International Geophysical Year. The NSF provides the infrastructure for
the GML’s scientific operations, featuring a state of the art science building known
as the Atmospheric Research Observatory (ARO) and another the Balloon Inflation
Facility (BIF). Two GML observatory staff members have tours of duty lasting a
year, including a 9 month period of isolation and 6 months of darkness.
Owing to the fact that at the geographic South Pole all directions are north, a
grid is used to define Cartesian coordinates. Grid north (0°/360°) is defined as the
line representing the prime meridian (or zero line of longitude) and this is referred
to as “north.” The 180° line from South Pole is “south.” The ARO lies some 500 m
(1,640 ft) grid east-northeast of the new elevated station and generally separated
and upwind from station operations.
The Clean Air Sector (CAS) was defined as the area beyond the ARO, from grid
340° to grid 110°. For at least 90% of the time the prevailing winds at the South
Pole are from the CAS. The CAS was established in order to preserve the unique
atmospheric and terrestrial conditions from South Pole Station influences. Except
for special circumstances, access to the CAS is prohibited. This includes foot and
vehicle traffic. Aircraft activity is limited in the CAS and guidelines for scientific
or other activities are regularly reviewed. The pristine nature of the CAS is strictly
preserved, not just for the current scientific activities but also for future science at
the South Pole.
9.1.6 World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is an intergovernmental entity
with a membership of 193 Member States and Territories. It originated from the
International Meteorological Organization (IMO), which, in turn, can be traced
back to the 1873 Vienna International Meteorological Congress. Established by
the ratification of the WMO Convention on March 23, 1950, WMO became the
specialized agency of the United Nations for meteorology (weather and climate),
operational hydrology, and related geophysical sciences one year later. With its
headquarters in Geneva, the Secretariat is headed by the Secretary-General. Its
supreme body is the World Meteorological Congress.
As a specialized agency of the United Nations, WMO is dedicated to international cooperation and coordination on the state and behavior of the Earth’s atmosphere, its interaction with the land and oceans, the weather and climate it
produces, and the resulting distribution of water resources.
The National Meteorological and Hydrological Services work around the clock to
provide vital weather and climate information worldwide. Their early and reliable
warnings of severe weather and fluctuations in air quality as well as of variability and
change in the climate allow decision-makers, communities and individuals to be
9.1 Scientific Organizations 205
Pole Observatory (SPO) is at the geographic South Pole on the Antarctic plateau
at an elevation of 2,837 m (9,300 ft) above sea level. It was established in 1957 as
part of the International Geophysical Year. The NSF provides the infrastructure for
the GML’s scientific operations, featuring a state of the art science building known
as the Atmospheric Research Observatory (ARO) and another the Balloon Inflation
Facility (BIF). Two GML observatory staff members have tours of duty lasting a
year, including a 9 month period of isolation and 6 months of darkness.
Owing to the fact that at the geographic South Pole all directions are north, a
grid is used to define Cartesian coordinates. Grid north (0°/360°) is defined as the
line representing the prime meridian (or zero line of longitude) and this is referred
to as “north.” The 180° line from South Pole is “south.” The ARO lies some 500 m
(1,640 ft) grid east-northeast of the new elevated station and generally separated
and upwind from station operations.
The Clean Air Sector (CAS) was defined as the area beyond the ARO, from grid
340° to grid 110°. For at least 90% of the time the prevailing winds at the South
Pole are from the CAS. The CAS was established in order to preserve the unique
atmospheric and terrestrial conditions from South Pole Station influences. Except
for special circumstances, access to the CAS is prohibited. This includes foot and
vehicle traffic. Aircraft activity is limited in the CAS and guidelines for scientific
or other activities are regularly reviewed. The pristine nature of the CAS is strictly
preserved, not just for the current scientific activities but also for future science at
the South Pole.
9.1.6 World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is an intergovernmental entity
with a membership of 193 Member States and Territories. It originated from the
International Meteorological Organization (IMO), which, in turn, can be traced
back to the 1873 Vienna International Meteorological Congress. Established by
the ratification of the WMO Convention on March 23, 1950, WMO became the
specialized agency of the United Nations for meteorology (weather and climate),
operational hydrology, and related geophysical sciences one year later. With its
headquarters in Geneva, the Secretariat is headed by the Secretary-General. Its
supreme body is the World Meteorological Congress.
As a specialized agency of the United Nations, WMO is dedicated to international cooperation and coordination on the state and behavior of the Earth’s atmosphere, its interaction with the land and oceans, the weather and climate it
produces, and the resulting distribution of water resources.
The National Meteorological and Hydrological Services work around the clock to
provide vital weather and climate information worldwide. Their early and reliable
warnings of severe weather and fluctuations in air quality as well as of variability and
change in the climate allow decision-makers, communities and individuals to be
9.1 Scientific Organizations 205