The Coordination Group for Meteorological Satellites (CGMS) is an international organization created in 1972 to coordinate the satellite systems that support global operational meteorology.
Description CGMS came into being on 19 September 1972, when representatives of the European Space Research Organisation (since 1975 the European Space Agency), Japan, the United States of America, and observers from the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and the Joint Planning Staff for the Global Atmospheric Research Programme, met in Washington to discuss questions of compatibility among geostationary meteorological satellites. Since the formation the mandate of CGMS has been extended to include Low Earth Orbit meteorological satellites and to cover other areas of operational space-based environmental monitoring as well as space weather observations from satellites.
The objectives of CGMS are formally laid down in its charter
As of 2021 CGMS has as members 14 national and intergovernmental space agencies, as well as the World Meteorological Organisation and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission:
+CGMS MembersOrganisationFull NameYear of AccessionCMAChina Meteorological Administration1989CNESCentre National d’Etudes Spatiales2004CNSAChina National Space Administration2006ESAThe European Space Agency2003EUMETSATEuropean Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites1987IMDIndia Meteorological Department1979IOC-UNESCOIntergovernmental Oceanographic Commission - UNESCO2001ISROIndian Space Research Organisation2015JAXAJapan Aerospace Exploration Agency2003JMAJapan Meteorological Agency1972KMAKorea Meteorological Administration2005NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration2003NOAANational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration1972ROSCOSMOSRussian Federal Space Agency2003ROSHYDROMETFederal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring of Russia1973WMOWorld Meteorological Organization1973
CGMS activities
CGMS coordinates the operational satellite systems of its members in an end-to-end fashion as required to facilitate and develop shared access to and use of satellite data and products in various application area, including operational meteorology. The activities cover:
Operational Continuity and Contingency Planning Coordination of Satellite Systems, Frequencies and Operations Coordination of Data Access and End User Support Enhancement of the quality of satellite-derived data and Products Monitoring of Climate including Greenhouse Gases Space Weather Monitoring Outreach and training activities
The medium term targets of CGMS are reflected in the CGMS High-Level Priority Plan. The HLPP is a rolling 5-year plan, revised annually by the CGMS plenary session.
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