September 2010: At the World Meteorological Organization’s (WMO) South American Regional Association meeting in Bogota, Colombia, delegates from 13 South American countries agreed on the need for efforts to provide better meteorological and hydrological services in the region.

They further called for improved climate products to better understand climate variability and climate change and cope with its increasing impacts. During the week-long meeting, WMO Secretary-General Michel Jarraud reaffirmed the call to support national meteorological and hydrological services. Participants identified regional priorities, including: improvements of forecasting and warning capabilities of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services; enhancement of observation and telecommunications networks; establishment of pilot regional climate centers that can evolve based on members’ needs as part of the Global Framework of Climate Services; implementation of a Climate Watch System for national level advisories; promotion of resource sharing among WMO members; and enhancement of warning dissemination mechanisms. The WMO South American Regional Association is one of the WMO’s six regional associations. [WMO Press Release]