Danish Meteorological Institute

The Danish Meteorological Institute (Danish: Danmarks Meteorologiske Institut, Danish pronunciation: [ˈd̥anmɑːɡ̊s meteɐ̯o̞ˈlo̝ˀisɡ̊ə e̞nsd̥iˈtud̥]) is the official Danish meteorological institute, administrated by the Ministry of Transport and Energy. The institute makes weather forecasts and observations for Denmark, Greenland, and the Faroe Islands.

It was founded in 1872, largely through the efforts of Ludwig A. Colding.

The Danish Meteorological Institute – DMI – encompasses the combined knowledge of the former Meteorological Institute, the Meteorological Service for Civil Aviation and the Meteorological Service for Defence. The Meteorological Institute was founded in 1872 under the Ministry of the Navy. The Meteorological Service for Civil Aviation was established in 1926, and used to be part of the Civil Aviation Administration. The Meteorological Service for Defence was established in 1953. The present-day DMI was established in 1990 through the merger of the three above-mentioned institutions. DMI is organized under the Ministry of Transport, and has a staff of about 380. In addition, DMI has around 450 voluntary weather and climate observers.

The institute was founded for the purpose of “making observations, communicating them to the general public, and developing scientific meteorology”. These remain DMI’s most important tasks, even though society and means of communication have developed enormously in the intervening period, as too has the need for qualified meteorological advice. DMI presently possesses comprehensive, internationally acclaimed knowledge about every aspect of weather and climate.

DMI is responsible for serving the meteorological needs of society within the kingdom of Denmark (Denmark, the Faroes and Greenland) including territorial waters and airspace. This entails monitoring weather, climate and environmental conditions in the atmosphere, on the land and at sea. The primary aim of these activities is to safeguard human life and property, as well as to provide a foundation for economic and environmental planning – especially within the armed forces, aviation, shipping and road traffic.

DMI’s most familiar services are the media weather forecasts, but the institute also assists the business community, institutions and members of the public in making sound decisions from the economic, environment and safety points of view. A wide range of services is also utilized by the fishery and agricultural sectors, by sports associations and others.

DMI’s expertise and service is to some extent founded on advanced new technology within super computers, satellites, radar and automatic measuring equipment. Solid research and development work ensures that DMI is run economically and rationally, and that the quality of the products meets modern expectations.

DMI runs an ice patrol service based in Narsarsuaq (southern Greenland) that observes the sea ice and icebergs along the coasts of Greenland, draws up ice charts and solves other safety-related tasks for navigation in Greenland marine waters.

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