Emblem

“Πολλά Φάσματα εν τω Oυρανώ” (Many Weather Phainomena take place in the Sky)

Location

The Hellenic National Meteorological Service (HNMS) is located in the area of the former East Hellenic Airport

Established

1931

Subordination

Hellenic Ministry of Defence/ Airforce General Staff

Mission

The mission of the HNMS is to support the Hellenic National Defense, the Hellenic National Economy and Community from a meteorological point of view.

Extensively

It provides specialized meteorological support for military operations (eg Parmenion, Alexander, etc.)

It issues local weather forecasts, sea forecasts and aeronautical forecasts when these are required for land, sea and air search and rescue operations.

It contributes with meteorological observations and specialized forecasts, in the process of emergency transfers by sea (often with vessels of the Hellenic Navy or the Coast Guard) or by air that Hellenic Air Force has undertaken to perform with its own aerial means of transportation.

It provides meteorological support for the flight work of aerial spraying aircrafts and, during the summer period, for the flight work of firefighting aircrafts which are based in local stages of the Air Service Unit of Public Services.

During summer, it contributes to the prevention and treatment of forest fires by issuing daily specialized weather forecasts. The Fire Service, in cooperation with HMNS, issues a risk map of forest fires throughout Greece.

In the context of Frontex, it contributes with local forecasts to the control and surveillance operations in our borders with Turkey.

Regarding the meteorological support it provides in the aeronautics field, HNMS is the national body responsible for monitoring and adopting the regulations of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) at national level.

Greece through HNMS, has been anointed responsible by for World Meteorological Organization (WMO) for the sea regions of Eastern Mediterranean and the Black Seas and it issues sea forecasts and wind warnings. For the same area, WMO has designated HMNS as a competent support body in case of oil spill pollution incidents, providing additionally to Meteorological forecasts, forecasts related to the expansion and trajectory of pollution. HNMS is also responsible for handling shipping forecasts and storm wind warnings for the entire Mediterranean and Black Sea.

History

The first organized meteorological activity in Greece appeared in 1890, when on the initiative of the Athens Observatory, the first Meteorological Network, called Aeginio, which consisted of seven Meteorological Surface Stations, began to operate. The Hellenic National Meteorological Service (HNMS) was founded in 1931 in the then newly established Ministry of Aviation, with main mission the meteorological support of the bodies of the Hellenic National Defense and the Hellenic National Economy.

Within the framework of the objectives set by the founding law of HNMS, our Service in the period of 1931-1940 developed a Meteorological Station Network and operated the Department of Weather Forecasting and the Meteorological School of HNMS. In 1935 it became a member of the International Meteorological Agency.

After World War II, HNMS was reorganized and its technological equipment was modernized, while at the same time it developed collaborations with International Organizations.
In 1949, Greece ratified the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Convention, which was then entered into force on March 23, 1950.

In the 1950s and 1960s HNMS set up new Surface and Upper Atmosphere Meteorological Stations, Meteorological Offices at Greece’s airports, reorganized the forecasting sector by establishing Meteorological Centers, and gradually modernized telecommunications.

In the 1970s and 1980s, the operational structures of the HNMS were reorganized and Computer systems, RADARS Meteorological Stations and new telecommunication systems were installed.

At the same period, HNMS became a member of European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) and of European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT).

In 1974, HNMS became part of the Ministry of Hellenic National Defense through the Air Force General Staff.

In the first half of the 1990s, HNMS implemented part of its modernization program with main points of reference the installation and operational operation of the new Telecommunication System (MSS), the Digital Processing System, Archive Processing, and the Digital Media Distribution System (PROTEAS), the implementation of the first phase of the Database for its needs and the installation of Automatic Meteorological Stations.

In 1995, HNMS belongs to the Minister of National Defense under the, administrative and financial, care and responsibility of the Air Force General Staff.

In the second half of 1990s, HNMS with new legislation and the new modernization program, gradually designed and implemented the reorganization of its operational structures, the cooperation with national bodies, the installation of a main computer system, the development and operation of numerical models, upgrading and expansion of the Meteorological Support system. At the same time, its international cooperation with ECOMET and EUMETNET expanded.

In 1996, by Ministerial Decision, the issues concerning the National Meteorological Service, except for the issues concerning its staff, were transferred to the General Director of the Staff of the Minister of Hellenic National Defense.

In 1997, the Regulation on its Organization and Operation was issued.

In May 2010, HNMS received ISO 9001: 2008 certification for the meteorological support in the field of aeronautics, an ICAO requirement for institutional aeronautical support agencies, and because of that it has been designated by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration the unique meteorological support provider in our country.

HNMS participates or cooperates with International and European Organizations, while participating in the committees of NATO and ICAO. At European level, it is a member of the European Medium-Term Forecasting Center (ECMWF) with the most up-to-date forecasts from the Global Scale Model of the European Organization for Meteorological Organization (EUMETSAT), the Group European Meteorological Services (EUMETNET) and the Informal Council of Directors of Meteorological Services of Western Europe (ICWED).

Contact

• Web Page: www.emy.gr
• Email : info@hnms.gr