GeoSphere Austria is committed to improve security and resilience worldwide. In this regard, long-term partnerships are essential.
Our network: national
and international representations
Representing Austria in national and international committees, organisations and programmes is among GeoSphere Austria’s integral tasks. In doing so, it represents Austria´s interests internationally, contributes to the internationalisation of Austrian research findings and helps positioning Austria as a valuable international centre of science, commerce and industry. It also ensures the return flow of international findings to Austria and their distribution within Austria. At a national level, GeoSphere Austria contributes its expertise to professional associations, for example. It also coordinates the national platform of the Austrian Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction (ASDR Platform).
Below is a selection of representations, networks and programmes to which GeoSphere Austria contributes, either by providing data or by being actively involved. Further information can be expanded by clicking on the program names.
World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and its programmes
The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), a specialised agency of the United Nations, provides the framework for international cooperation in the field of meteorology and climatology. One of the aims of this cooperation is to be able to measure weather according to standardised criteria, exchange data internationally and produce high-quality forecasts and warnings in order to improve the safety and well-being of all people. Austria has been a member of the WMO since 1955 and is represented by GeoSphere Austria.
GeoSphere Austria is also involved in various programmes of the World Meteorological Organisation. Examples include the Global Atmosphere Watch Programme (GAW), the WMO Integrated Global Observing System (WIGOS), the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS), and the Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS).
ASDR Platform and Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction
For a long time, the focus in natural hazard management was on how best to react in the event of an incident. However, the aim of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction and its Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction is to break this cycle of merely reacting to disasters and instead move towards a preventive and proactive approach.
The Austrian Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction (ASDR) platform is concerned with the national implementation of the activities of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction. A national focal point has been set up at GeoSphere Austria to coordinate these activities. The aim is to implement the United Nations Sendai Framework 2015–2030 in Austria
Group on Earth Observations (GEO)
The Group on Earth Observations (GEO) is a global intergovernmental project dedicated to understand our planet. It focuses on the joint development of user-driven solutions based on Earth observations and data. By collecting and sharing important information, GEO provides a comprehensive overview of the planet´s well-being and enables us to monitor and protect its health. These are not just data sets, but tools that inform decision-making and drive policies and initiatives worldwide for a sustainable future for society. Austria is represented in the GEO initiative by GeoSphere Austria.
Organisation of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty
Many states have made a treaty commitment not to carry out nuclear weapons tests. A global monitoring system is in place to check whether states are honouring this commitment. All states that have undertaken not to carry out tests can access data from this system and thus check whether the treaty is being complied with. In Austria, the National Data Centre based at GeoSphere Austria carries out this monitoring. Among other things, the monitoring system is based on seismic measurements, which can be used to detect not only earthquakes but also explosions during nuclear tests.
GeoSphere Austria is also one of the specialised regional centres from which the organisation can request meteorological dispersion calculations. These calculations can be used to determine the source area of the radiation in the event of increased radioactive radiation measurements.
European weather services partnerships: EUMETNET, EUMETSAT, ECMWF
GeoSphere Austria works closely with the umbrella organisation of European meteorological services EUMETNET, the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites EUMETSAT and the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts ECMWF. The partnership with EUMETNET strengthens European cooperation in weather forecasting and contributes to the development of common standards. Access to high-quality satellite data from EUMETSAT and the use of state-of-the-art models and technologies from ECMWF enable us to carry out precise weather forecasts and climate observations.
These international collaborations are crucial to our ability to make a positive contribution both globally and locally and to improve resilience to extreme weather events.
European geological surveys partnership: EuroGeoSurveys
The overarching strategic goal of EuroGeoSurveys is to establish an institutionally and financially secure ‘Geological Service for Europe’, which provides reliable, up-to-date, easily accessible and sustainably available geoscientific data, models and expertise, in particular to the EU institutions, but also to other stakeholder groups from the fields of business, science, education, civil society, etc.
GeoSphere Austria is represented in the expert groups for the following subject areas: Geological Mapping and Modelling, Earth Observation – Geohazards, Geochemistry, Spatial Information – INSPIRE, Urban Geology, Mineral Resources, Geoenergy and Water Resources.
Key international projects for a secure future
GeoSphere Austria is also committed to improve security and resilience at a global and European level through its involvement in international long-term projects such as the SOFF programme, ARISTOTLE and MeteoAlarm.
Systematic Observations Financing Facility (SOFF)
Current measurements and observations of the weather are the basis for weather forecasts and warnings as well as for studies on climate and climate change. However, there are still large areas of land on Earth without suitable weather measurements. The aim of the Systematic Observations Financing Facility (SOFF) is to fill the gaps in the worldwide measurement network and to ensure that these measurement networks have long-term financing and provide data in real-time. SOFF focuses on countries with the greatest deficits in weather observations, prioritising the least developed countries and small island developing states.
SOFF is a cooperation between the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP).
As part of the SOFF programme, GeoSphere Austria supports several countries in setting up weather monitoring networks as a basis for forecasts and warnings.
ARISTOTLE
ARISTOTLE is a project funded by the European Commission´s Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department (ECHO), which provides 24/7 expertise on global natural disasters to the European Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC). Since the European Parliament established ARISTOTLE in 2016, it has demonstrated the benefits of a multidisciplinary partnership approach in improving disaster prevention and preparedness.
GeoSphere Austria has an important role in the project. We are part of the coordination team and service management. In addition, we provide scientific expert advice on the natural hazards of earthquakes and weather, and are available around the clock for the Emergency Response Coordination Centre.
MeteoAlarm
MeteoAlarm is a project of the umbrella organisation of European meteorological services (EUMETNET), which collects weather warnings from national meteorological services and relays these to the public in a standardised manner. One of the goals is to transmit the warnings directly to smartphones in the areas for which warnings are active. This enables people to prepare for extreme weather events at an early stage and act accordingly.
MeteoAlarm promotes cooperation between European weather services and responsible parties in order to exchange experiences and best practices and to establish uniform standards at the European level. MeteoAlarm is led by GeoSphere Austria.
