A worldwide system for observing, analysing, and forecasting meteorological conditions, established in 1963 under the auspices of the World Meteorological Organization. It supplies constantly updated weather reports and forecasts to all World Meteorological Organization members, obtaining its data from 4 satellites in polar orbit and 5 in geostationary orbit, about 10 000 land observation stations, 7000 weather ships, and 300 moored and drifting buoys. The Tropical Cyclone Programme is one of the programmes forming part of the WWW. See also world climate programme.