Global Weather Experiment

international scientific effort

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June 29, 2026

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The Global Weather Experiment, also known as the First Global Atmospheric Research Program (GARP) Global Experiment, was a massive international scientific effort conducted in 1979. Its primary goal was to improve weather forecasting by demonstrating the impact of high-quality global observations on numerical prediction models.1

This experiment involved numerous nations and focused on collecting comprehensive data about Earth's atmosphere. The insights gained from the Global Weather Experiment continue to contribute to advancements in weather forecasting. It was a significant undertaking in the history of meteorology, building upon earlier concepts of numerical weather prediction that began to emerge in the mid-20th century with the advent of electronic computers.1

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weather forecasting
Numerical weather prediction (NWP) models
The vast Global Weather Experiment, first conceived by Charney, was carried out by many nations in 1979 under the leadership of the World Meteorological Organization to demonstrate what high-quality global observations could do to improve forecasting by numerical prediction models. The results of that effort continue to…
Read More
The vast Global Weather Experiment, first conceived by Charney, was carried out by many nations in 1979 under the leadership of the World Meteorological Organization to demonstrate what high-quality global observations could do to improve forecasting by numerical prediction models. The results of that effort continue to…
Read More