Working visit of Belhydromet staff to the A.I.Voeikov Main Geophysical Observatory

From 4 to 6 November 2026, a working visit of a Belhydromet delegation to the A.I.Voeikov Main Geophysical Observatory (MGO) took place. The delegation included Deputy Head of Belhydromet Ekaterina Gladun and Head of the Verification Group of the Metrological Laboratory of the Belhydromet Metrological Service Svetlana Mitrenko. The main purpose of the trip was to study the organization and functioning of the MGO metrological service.

Background: The MGO is located in Saint Petersburg and is one of the oldest meteorological research institutions in the Russian Federation. The observatory has many years of experience in organizing verification, calibration and maintenance of measuring instruments. The Roshydromet reference base held at the MGO comprises more than 100 units of standards and verification equipment. It includes secondary standards of atmospheric pressure, wind speed, solar irradiance, standards of air temperature and relative humidity, meteorological visibility range and cloud base height. It also houses the WMO regional standard for measurements of total atmospheric ozone content, which is regularly compared with the world standard.

The members of the Belhydromet delegation were warmly received by MGO Director Vladimir Kattsov, Head of the Metrology Department Pavel Zimenkov and other staff of the observatory.

The primary task facing the Belhydromet staff was to study the reference base of the MGO Metrology Department: aspects relating to the use, storage, maintenance and metrological assessment of standards.

The issue of equipping laboratories with means of creating conditions and monitoring environmental parameters during verification was considered in detail.

Particular attention was paid to studying the experience of using aerodynamic installations and the equipping of a mobile laboratory for trips to verify hydrometeorological equipment at its places of operation.

During the visit, it was possible to talk with MGO staff on the issue of lightning detection in the territory of the Russian Federation, to learn technical details and to hear feedback on the use of this type of observation over decades.

In addition, an excursion to the MGO museum was organized for the Belhydromet staff, which made it possible to trace the history of the observatory from its foundation to the present day.

This visit is of great importance, as it opens up opportunities for determining the prospects for the development of the Belhydromet metrological service and for continuing the exchange of accumulated experience.