Topic outline

  • banner image showing the 4 module topics of the course

    Course Description

    How to Take This Course

    Approximate time to complete:  2 to 2.5 hours. This course makes use of text, interactive graphics, case-studies and activities to introduce the basic concepts of impact-based forecast warning systems. After completing this course you will be better equipped to help your organization advance an impact-based approach in hydro-meteorological services, disaster risk reduction and related areas. 

    Please note: Each module opens in a new window. Please allow popups in your browser. For instructions on how to do this in your browser, search the internet for "How to enable popups." 


    • Module 1: Fundamentals of IBFWS (~25 min)

      • Start Module 1 SCORM package

        In this module, you will learn to describe the potential benefits offered by using an IBFWS approach to reduce weather-related impacts, and how this differs from a traditional weather forecasting paradigm.module 1 montage - wind warning, team meeting, emergency responders, meteorologist

        Click to open Module 1. When you are finished with the module, return here to take the quiz. 


      • Module 1 Quiz
        Restricted Not available unless: The activity Start Module 1 is marked complete

        A score of 70% is required to pass this quiz. You may make as many attempts as you wish. Only your highest score will be counted. Passing all of the quizzes is required to obtain credit for course completion. 

        Note that you must be enroled and logged into this site to access the quizzes. Instructions on how to enrol are to be found under "How to take this course" at the top of this page. 

    • Module 2: Roadmap to the IBFWS Paradigm (~50 min)

      • Start Module 2 SCORM package

        In this module, you will learn how to explain the key concepts and tools needed for designing and implementing a roadmap to move your organisation toward an impact-based warning paradigm. 

        module 2 montage - satellite image of hurricane, people after tropical storm damage, spatially-varied health map, risk map 

        Click to open Module 2. When you are finished with the module, return here to take the quiz. 

      • Module 2 Quiz
        Restricted Not available unless: The activity Start Module 2 is marked complete

        A score of 70% is required to pass this quiz. You may make as many attempts as you wish. Only your highest score will be counted. Passing all of the quizzes is required to obtain credit for course completion. 

        Note that you must be enroled and logged into this site to access the quizzes. Instructions on how to enrol are to be found under "How to take this course" at the top of this page. 

    • Module 3: Best Practises for Collaboration and Strategic Partnerships in IBFWS (~50 min)

      • Start Module 3 SCORM package

        In this module, you will learn how to explain the importance of building collaboration and partnerships, and recommended strategies for their successful implementation as part of developing IBFWS. 

        module 3 montage - Natural hazards partnership UK, meteorologist and emergency manager, team meeting, TV news and police

        Click to open Module 3 in a new window. Please be sure your browser is set to allow pop-ups from this site. When you are finished with the module, return here to take the quiz. 

      • Module 3 Quiz
        Restricted Not available unless: The activity Start Module 3 is marked complete

        A score of 70% is required to pass this quiz. You may make as many attempts as you wish. Only your highest score will be counted. Passing all of the quizzes is required to obtain credit for course completion. 

        Note that you must be enroled and logged into this site to access the quizzes. Instructions on how to enrol are to be found under "How to take this course" at the top of this page. 

    • Module 4: Effective Communications Strategies for Impacts-Based Warnings (~30 min)

      • Start Module 4 SCORM package

        In this module, you will learn to describe recommended strategies and methods for effectively communicating risk to support decision-making under an IBFWS paradigm.  

        module 4 montage - meteoalarm impact-based warning, CAP system, Reach model, Winter-ready flyer Ireland

        Click to open Module 4 in a new window. Please be sure your browser is set to allow pop-ups from this site. When you are finished with the module, return here to take the quiz.

      • Module 4 Quiz
        Restricted Not available unless: The activity Start Module 4 is marked complete

        A score of 70% is required to pass this quiz. You may make as many attempts as you wish. Only your highest score will be counted. Passing all of the quizzes is required to obtain credit for course completion. 

        Note that you must be enroled and logged into this site to access the quizzes. Instructions on how to enrol are to be found under "How to take this course" at the top of this page. 

    • Final Exam

      A score of 70% is required to pass this exam. You may make as many attempts as you wish. Only your highest score will be counted. Passing this exam is required to obtain credit for course completion. 

      Note that you must be enroled and logged into this site to access the quizzes. Instructions on how to enrol are to be found under "How to take this course" at the top of this page. 

      • Final Course Exam Quiz
        Restricted Not available unless:
        • The activity Module 1 Quiz is marked complete
        • The activity Module 2 Quiz is marked complete
        • The activity Module 3 Quiz is marked complete
        • The activity Module 4 Quiz is marked complete

    • Providing Feedback

      • The course developers would love to hear about your experience using this learning resource. To provide feedback, please submit the feedback form available below. Note that you will only see the link to the feedback form if you have enrolled to attend the course and are logged in the ETRP Moodle Site. Your feedback will be considered when the course is updated.

        Please note that submission of this feedback is required to obtain a course completion badge. 

        For other questions and comments, or to report problems in this course page, please contact ibfws@wmo.int

    • References, Glossary, Media Attributions

    • Acknowledgements

      The following people contributed to the development of this resource:

      WMO, Disaster Risk Reduction and Public Services Branch (DPS)

      • Cyrille Honoré, Director
      • Adanna Robertson-Quimby, Programme Officer
      • Samuel Muchemi, Scientific Officer
      • Ata Hussain, Scientific Project Coordination Officer (Severe Weather Forecasting Programme)

      WMO, Education and Training Programme (ETRP) 

      • Luciane Veeck, Education and Training Support Officer

      WMO Expert Team on General Service Delivery (ET-GSD) Sub-Group, 2022

      • Dr. William Lang, UK Met Office, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
      • Saskia Willemse, MeteoSwiss, Switzerland 
      • Carolina Cerrudo, National Meteorological Service, Argentina

      Instructional Media Designer, Technical Writer 

      Special Thanks 

      The course development team also would like to express gratitude to those who took time to discuss or review the development of this course including but not limited to: ET-GSD - Kai-Kwong Hon (Hong Kong Observatory, Hong Kong, China) , Zhang Di (China Meteorological Administration, China), Gerald Fleming (Ireland), Evan Morgan (Bureau of Meteorology, Australia), Chris Noble (MetService, New Zealand), Siobhan Ryan (Met Éireann, Meteorological Service, Ireland), Fatima Sabai (National Meteorological Service, Morocco), Haruka Watanabe (Japan Meteorological Agency, Japan), Elizabeth Viljoen (South Africa Weather Service, South Africa), John Koch (National Weather Service, United States of America) and Yohei Kurose (Japan Meteorological Agency, Japan), COMET/UCAR - Paul Kucera and Tsvetomir Ross-Lazarov.