As
part of its mission within the NWS, the International
Activities Office coordinates the development
of and monitors the activities of bilateral international
agreements that cover joint cooperation between
the United States and other countries in the areas
of meteorology and hydrology. The IAO provides
guidance and evaluates the rationale to establish
these agreements and assists with the legal process
starting from the NWS and going through the Department
of State approval in the execution of the agreement.
A key activity in these agreements is the exchange
of personnel for study tours focusing on various
topics. A summary of these tours coordinated by
IAO can be found on the Meetings and Events page. Below you will find information about our agreements around the world.
The NWS administers a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between NOAA and the Russian Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring (Roshydromet) for collaboration in the fields of meteorology, hydrology, and oceanography.
The NWS has a Memorandum of Understanding with the Hydrometeorological Service (HMS) of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam for technical cooperation in the areas of meteorology and hydrology.
Since 1980 the U.S. has been involved in a bilateral agreement with the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) entitled the United States/PRC Agreement in the Fields of Atmospheric Sciences and Technology. Over the years both countries have provided a broad diversity of both research and operational activities of great benefit.
The U.S. - Korea Bilateral Agreement was signed in September 2000. Under this agreement, the NWS and the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) have agreed to cooperate in several areas. These areas include satellite meteorology, operational weather forecasting (emphasizing numerical weather modeling), aeronautical meteorology, marine meteorology, and climate prediction.
The purpose of the U.S. - Canada climate bilateral agreement is to facilitate the cooperation and coordination of meteorology, hydrology and climate forecast services and programs and activities undertaken by the NWS and the Meteorological Service of Canada, Environment Canada.
Over the past 3 decades, the NWS has been working with the Government of Mexico in a variety of program areas through the bilateral agreement. The primary focus since 1996 has been in the area of hydrology and flood forecasting for the Mexican PROMMA Project.
NOAA and the Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS), Republic of Singapore, have a Memorandum of Understanding for technical cooperation in meteorology and climate.
The purpose of the NOAA and Saudi (Presidency of Meteorology and Environment - PME) partnership known as The Arsad Project is to foster technology transfer and training in meteorology and environmental protection.
The broad objective of the Romanian cooperation is to allow the exchange of scientific resources, personnel, and technical knowledge on the basis of equality, reciprocity, and mutual benefit, which support the improvement or development of meteorological and hydrologic services for both countries.
The NWS administers a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between NOAA and the Thailand Ministry of Foreign Affairs for coordination of activities in oceanography, meteorology, hydrology, and end-to-end warning systems.