Czech Hydrometeorological Institute

The Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (CHMI) is the recipient of the support and the coordinator of the ACTRIS-CZ project. It is the owner and operator of the Košetice observatory.

CHMI is a partly state-funded organisation, is a state institute established by Government Decree No. 96/1953 of 27 November 1953 with a charter issued and amended by Ministry of the Environment.

The structure of the institute reflects the sectoral and regional composition. Three technical Divisions, on Meteorology and Climatology, Hydrology, and Air Quality, are supplemented by the Finance and Administration Division, and by the Information and Communication Technology Division to ensure technological support for a range of demanding computing and communication activities of the institute. Fulfilling the tasks in the regions are ensured by CHMI branches in Prague, České Budějovice, Plzeň, Ústí nad Labem, Hradec Králové, Brno and Ostrava. CHMI, a partly state-funded organisation, acts as a state institute of the Czech Republic in the fields of air quality, hydrology, water quality, climatology and meteorology, performing this function as an objective specialised service provided preferentially for the state administration. The main activities of the institute include:

integrated rational, efficient and economic performance of the civil service;

establishment and operation of the state monitoring and observing networks for monitoring of the quantitative and qualitative conditions of the atmosphere and hydrosphere and the causes leading to the pollution or damage thereof;

expert evaluation of the results of observations, measurements and monitoring while adhering to the principles of the EU legislation;

creating and managing databases comprising data on the condition and quality of the air and sources of air pollution, and on the quantity and quality of water following the EU legislation and international agreements;

provision of information on characteristics and regimes of the atmosphere and hydrosphere

provision of operational information on the condition of the atmosphere and hydrosphere, and of forecasts and warnings alerting on dangerous hydrometeorological phenomena;

publishing activities in the fields of meteorology, climatology, hydrology and protection of air quality;

technical development of monitoring, communication and information technologies, carrying out scientific and research activities in the respective disciplines, including project activities;

under an authorisation or permission, carrying out other specialised technical activities related to the basic activities of the institute as specified by the CHMI charter;

organising technical courses, excursions, training and other educational events for the public including lecturing, environmental education, teaching and educative activities.

Other functions and activities carried out by the institute include, among other tasks, operation of the regional telecommunication hub within the system of the World Weather Information Service coordinated by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), a function of an authorised expert institution for identifying and assessing the condition of surface water and groundwater, for operating information systems of public administration, and for preparation of the hydrological balance, a function of the flood forecasting service, issuing meteorological forecasts of formation, emergence and end of smog situations and regulatory measures, a function of a centre for delineating zones and agglomerations with exceeded ambient air pollution limits, and for preparing reports on air quality, a function of the administrator and operator of the air quality information system including the operation and development of the Register of Air Pollution Emissions Sources (REZZO), operation of the register of emissions and sources of pollution, and the register of air quality information system including regular informing the public on air quality, and operation of a specialized public library.