World Expo 2010 Shanghai: First-ever meteorological pavilion
Leaders of the world meteorological community and Chinese Authorities led by Hui Liangyu, Vice Premier, are gathered today at World Expo 2010 in Shanghai for the Honor Day of “MeteoWorld”, the first-ever meteorological pavilion in the 159-year history of World Expo. Meteoworld offers visitors to the World Expo 2010 a unique opportunity to learn about the prevention and mitigation of meteorological disasters, adaptation to climate change, advances in atmospheric science and technology, meteorological service and routine work of meteorologists.
“MeteoWorld” on the theme “for the safety and well-being of the people” is operated by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and China Meteorological Administration (CMA), in partnership with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the Group on Earth Observations, the European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites, and the Association of Hydro-Meteorological Equipment. The pavilion covers 1,500 square meters and has the form of a white cloud with surrounding mist. Visitors are able to see a rainbow when the angle of the sunshine is below 42 degrees, as well as simulations of climatic extremes. “MeteoWorld” is adjacent to the United Nations pavilion, in which WMO participates as the UN Specialized Agency for meteorology (weather and climate), operational hydrology and related geophysical sciences.
Addressing the media today in the Expo Press Center in Shanghai, Dr Alexander Bedritsky, WMO President, stated: “Whatever achievement is made in the science of meteorology and hydrology serves a purpose only if the outputs benefit the people. MeteoWorld is unprecedented as a pavilion for enhancing awareness of the public on the benefits they can draw from the work of meteorologists and hydrologists working together beyond political borders across the world.”
Mr Michel Jarraud, WMO Secretary-General, saw MeteoWorld “as a new symbol of international cooperation. This partnership goes beyond WMO and CMA, to include the broader meteorological, hydrological and climate community including partners working together with the same objective, which is to protect people and to improve their quality of life.” He announced various events organized by the international meteorological community at World Expo 2010, including a high-level Symposium on Meteorological Service Delivery and Disaster Risk Reduction on 9 and 10 May.
Dr Zheng Guoguang, Administrator of CMA, drew attention to the fact that beyond the various exhibitions, the Pavilion also hosts the World Expo Meteorological Office, which is the operational platform for weather forecasting and an on-site entity of service-delivery in support of the World Expo.
Also attending the ceremony today are Yu Zhengsheng, Shanghai Party Secretary, Han Zheng, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Shanghai Committee and Mayor of Shanghai, Hu Yanzhao, Vice Mayor of Shanghai and, the Deputy Commissioner General of Shanghai World Expo 2010.
Expo 2010 is being held during a season of "plum showers", floods and typhoons in Shanghai, with weather changing from sunshine to heavy thunderstorms. The WMO Shanghai Multi-Hazard Early Warning System Demonstration project, hosted by CMA, is providing meteorological services in support of the safe operation of the Exposition. Visitors have started receiving free updated weather forecasts on their mobile phones, and weather updates are available on a large screen in front of the pavilion and on the pavilion’s website.
“Better City, Better Life” - the theme of World Expo 2010 is intertwined with weather, climate and water. MeteoWorld demonstrates how WMO and the National Meteorological and Hydrological Services of its 189 Members help communities prepare for extreme weather and water events and climate change, and better equip cities to deal with severe storms, among other hazards.
At the WMO Communications and Public Affairs Office:
- Ms Carine Richard-Van Maele, Chief,
Tel: +41 (0) 22 730 8315, Mobile: +41 794 064730; E-mail: cpa@wmo.int
- Ms Gaëlle Sévenier, Press Officer,
Tel. +41 (0) 22 730 8417, Fax: +41 (0) 22 730 8027, E-mail: gsevenier@wmo.int