Every year on March 23, the World Meteorological Organization celebrates World Meteorological Day to mark the Convention’s entry into force on that date in 1950. Activities are held all around the world to commemorate it and highlight the vital role that the National Meteorological and Hydrological Services play in society’s safety and well-being. The World Meteorological Day themes are based on current meteorological, climatic, or water-related challenges.
The relevance of the earth’s atmosphere and human behaviour towards one another is highlighted on this day. Every year on March 23rd, it is observed to honour the founding of the World Meteorological Organization, a specialised organisation established by the UN.Typically, World Meteorological Day includes activities including exhibitions and symposia for meteorological experts, conferences, the general public, and local authorities. Certain activities are designed to get media coverage and boost meteorology’s stature. Also, a lot of awards for research in meteorology are announced, given out, or celebrated on World Meteorological Day.
To commemorate this day, many nations print unique postage stamp cancellations or postage stamps. The stamps typically represent the event’s topic or highlight a country’s accomplishments in meteorology.
World Meteorological Day: Theme
The theme of “The Future of Weather, Climate, and Water Across Generations” will be the focus of World Meteorological Day in 2023. World Meteorological Day, observed annually on March 23, honours the date on which the Convention creating the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) entered into force.
The World Meteorological Day always has a fresh theme, which changes from year to year. The WMO conducted a picture contest in 2007 with the theme “Hotter, dryer, wetter” as its inspiration.Moreover, the World Meteorological Day saw the release of a new edition of the International Cloud Atlas.The decade inspires attempts to gather ocean science, which serves as the foundation of knowledge to assist sustainable development, through new and disruptive concepts. Many events and activities are planned for this day.
World Meteorological Day: History
The World Meteorological Organization Treaty entered into force on March 23, 1950, and in 1951 it was designated as the UN’s specialised agency for meteorology, operational hydrology, and allied geophysical sciences.The group wanted to create networks of weather stations. Telegraph connections between these networks enabled better weather predictions. This enhanced the effectiveness and safety of shipping services.
On March 23, 1950, the International Meteorological Organization changed its name to the World Meteorological Organization. In 1951, it was designated as the UN’s special agency for meteorology, operational hydrology, and other geophysical sciences.
The World Meteorological Organization is essential to promoting public welfare and safety. Its efforts are crucial for ensuring transportation, water resources, and food security. Since 1961, March 23 has been designated as World Meteorological Day.Every year, a new theme is chosen by the International Meteorological Organization to commemorate World Meteorological Day.
The World Meteorological Organization makes a significant contribution to the welfare and safety of people. As a result, its work is crucial for ensuring transportation, water resources, and food security.
World Meteorological Day: Significance
In 2023, World Meteorological Day coincides with the 150th anniversary of the WMO. From the late 19th century telegraphs and shipping forecasts through supercomputers and space technologies, it illustrates historical accomplishments, current advancements, and promise for the future.
The National Meteorological and Hydrological Services have been working nonstop over this time to gather and standardise the data that serves as the foundation for the weather forecasts we now take for granted. The evolution of WMO data sharing is a fascinating narrative of technological innovation, scientific foresight, and, most importantly, a special cooperative structure for the benefit of society.
The anniversary serves as a reminder of how our climate is changing. In an era when pollution from industrial and human activity was only beginning, the International Meteorological Organization, the forerunner of the World Meteorological Organization, was founded in 1873.As a result of heat-trapping greenhouse gases, the average global temperature is now more than 1° Celsius higher today compared to 150 years ago. Sea levels have increased, our weather is more intense, our ocean is warmer and more acidic, and glaciers and ice are melting. Change is happening more quickly. To reduce emissions and make sure that future generations may live and prosper on our planet, we urgently need to take action today.
The good news is that quick breakthroughs in science and technology have substantially increased the reliability of weather forecasts and potentially life-saving early warnings. Huge data is being shared more openly than ever before, and new tools like machine learning and artificial intelligence are available.Much progress has been made in monitoring, simulating, and projecting the global climate to aid in decision-making.Future weather patterns, climatic changes, and the water cycle will differ from those of the past. We will be able to address the related difficulties and grab the opportunities with the aid of weather, climate, and hydrological services.
World Meteorological Day quiz
Try out this educational quiz to see how much you already know about weather, climate etc. The day honours the World Meteorological Organization’s official launch. The questions in this quiz will disclose a variety of interesting information about the day.
- When is the World Meteorological Day celebrated?
March 25
March 23
March 30
March 15
Correct Answer- March 23
- When was the first World Meteorological Day observed?
1955
1964
1961
1950
Correct Answer- 1950
- What is the theme for World Meteorological Day 2023?
The ocean, our climate, and weather
Early Warning and Early Action
The Future of Weather, Climate and Water across Generations
Climate and Water
Correct Answer- The Future of Weather, Climate and Water across Generations
- World Meteorological Organisation has its roots in-
International Union for Conservation of Nature
International Meteorological Organization
Both A and B
Neither A nor B
Correct Answer- International Meteorological Organization
- The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change was founded by the World Meteorological Organization in cooperation with-
UNESCO
UNDP
UNEP
UNICEF
Correct Answer- UNEP
- The study of meteorology includes-
Air
Environment
Weather
Atmosphere
Correct Answer- Weather
- What do we name a specialist who focuses on climate and weather?
A speleologist
A geologist
A meteorologist
An environmentalist
Correct Answer- A meteorologist
- What do we call the calm region at the hurricane’s centre?
An eye
A vortex
A heart
An epicenter
Correct Answer- An eye
- Of the following, which one is not a meteorological scale?
Mesoscale
Large Scale
Microscale
Synpaticscale
Correct Answer- Large Scale
- How many states are members of World Meteorological Organisation?
187+6 territories
150+6 territories
168+6 territories
170+6 territories
Correct Answer- 187+6 territories
- The interdisciplinary field formed by meteorology and hydrology is called-
Dynamic Meteorology
Hydrometeorology
Maritime Meteorology
None of the Above
Correct Answer: Hydrometeorology
- What can we expect from marine meteorology?
Waves
A fish
Wind
Sea Animal
Correct Answer: Waves
- Where in the atmosphere is the ozone layer found?
Troposphere
Thermosphere
Mesosphere
Stratosphere
Correct Answer: Stratosphere
- The most significant weather events take place in the __________
Mesosphere
Troposphere
Stratosphere
Thermosphere
Correct Answer: Troposphere
- Which two characteristics best describe an air mass?
Temperature and Moisture
Temperature and Location
Temperature and Pressure
Moisture and Pressure
Correct Answer: Temperature and Moisture
Also check out the World Sparrow Day Quiz!
World Meteorological Day quiz: FAQs
World Meteorological Day is observed annually on March 23rd.
The theme of World Meteorological Day 2023 is “The Future of Weather, Climate and Water across Generations”.
World Meteorological Day was first observed in 1950.
Every year on March 23, the World Meteorological Organization celebrates its founding as well as the crucial role that national meteorological and hydrological services play in society’s safety and well-being.
The founding of the WMO and the signing of the Convention are where global meteorology began.
However, The World Meteorological Convention was ratified on 23 March 1950 after being signed on 11 October 1947.