As a specialized agency of the United Nations, WMO is dedicated to international cooperation and coordination on the state and behavior of the Earth's atmosphere, its interaction with the land and oceans, the weather and climate it produces, and the resulting distribution of water resources.

The role of the 15-member SAP is:

To provide forward-looking strategic advice on emerging challenges and opportunities to the highest WMO governing bodies, that is, the World Meteorological Congress and the Executive Council. As such, SAP is expected to play a fundamental advisory role in WMO transition to a better integrated organization with global standing and visibility as a leading scientific organization in the fields of weather, climate, water and related environmental and social sciences.

Lynch, who is also Professor of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences, is looking forward to serving on the panel at this time of unprecedented global change.

"I'm excited to be a part of moving WMO forward in the face of unforeseen challenges," she said.