About IPWG

HISTORY OF THE IPWG

The International Precipitation Working Group (IPWG) started with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Strategy to Improve Satellite System Utilization. The 52nd session of the WMO Executive Council, held in June 2000, recommended involving relevant science groups in a systematic manner as well as noting the positive indication from the Global Precipitation Climatology Project (GPCP) for World Climate Research Programme's (WCRP) Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment (GEWEX) to serve as a nucleus for such a working group.

Subsequently, WMO strongly encouraged the Coordination Group for Meteorological Satellites (CGMS) to participate in the formation of an International Precipitation Working Group with active participation by WMO and GPCP, within the framework of CGMS. Since 1972, CGMS has provided a forum in which the satellite operators have studied jointly with the WMO technical operational aspects of the global satellite network, so as to ensure maximum efficiency and usefulness through proper coordination in the design of the satellites and in the procedures for data acquisition and dissemination. This 7th workshop follows previous workshops in Madrid (2002), Monterey (2004), Melbourne (2006), Beijing (2008), Hamburg (2010), and São José dos Campos (2012).

PURPOSE OF THE IPWG

In the area of quantitative precipitation measurements, the purpose of the IPWG is to foster the development of better measurements and improvement in their use; improvement of scientific understanding; and development of international partnerships.