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THE CHANGING ATMOSPHERE-CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

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[[caption]] The cliche "the atmosphere knows no national boundaries" is a fundamental truth, and from it stems an international need for cooperation.  Here, an Indian monsoon disrupts village life.  (Photo by Robert Schware.) [[/caption]]

At the international level the partnerships are also intense and uniquely different from those in any other activity.  The cliche "the atmosphere knows no national boundaries" is a fundamental truth, and from it stems an international need for cooperation that transcends politics.  For over 100 years the nations of the world have exchanged meteorological data freely and at no cost to each other.  Coordinated procedures in the way weather observations are taken - what elements to measure, at what time - are followed by all countries.  These data are sent over internationally agreed-to communication systems that are coordinated bt the WMO.  Without these observations, skillful forecasts for more than two or three days would not be possible for the United States.  This arrangement for the free exchange of data must be preserved.

That our knowledge of the atmosphere can be advanced through internationally coordinated efforts has been demonstrated by the World Weather Program.  The climate change issue is global by its very nature.  It is therefore obvious that internationally coordinated action is essential to understand the climatic system of Planet Earth and adapt to or limit the effects of climatic change.

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