OBS/IMO/TECO-2008, Local arrangements, p. 1

W O R L D M E T E O R O L O G I C A L O R G A N I Z A T I O N

WMO TECHNICAL CONFERENCE ON METEOROLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL INSTRUMENTS AND METHODS OF OBSERVATION

TECO-2008

(St. Petersburg, Russian Federation, 27-29 November 2008)

Information on local arrangements

1.Venue of the Conference

At the kind invitation of the Government of Russian Federation, the Technical Conference on Meteorological and Environmental Instruments and Methods of Observation, TECO-2008, will be held atRussia, St. Petersburg, “LenExpo” Exhibition Complex (Hall 7), from 27 to 29 November 2008.

LocalHosts/Local Organizing Committee:

Federal Service of Russian Federation on Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring (Roshydromet)

Main Geophysical Observatory of Roshydromet

Russia, 194021, St. Petersburg, Karbysheva, 7

Phone: + 7812 297-43-90, + 7812 297-86-70

Fax: + 7812297 8661

Internet:

Contact person: Alexander Zaytsev;E-mail:

Exhibition Company IMD Corporation – TECO / METEOREX operator

Russia, 196136, St. Petersburg, Frunze, 11

Phone:+ 7812449 2605, + 7812 449-13-03,

+ 7812 449-13-43, + 7812 373-97-92

Fax:+ 7 812 766-05-87

E-mail:

Internet:

Contact person: Mr. Dmitri Kazuto

E-mail:

Mobile phone:+ 7 (812) 963-71-36

The opening ceremony will take place on Thursday, 27 November 2008, at 10:00hours. The Exhibition of Meteorological Instruments, Equipment and Services (METEOREX-2008)[1] will be held in parallel with TECO2008 in the same conference facility.

2.Interpretation

It is currently planned to conduct the Conference in English with simultaneous translation into Russian.

3.Registration of participants

The registration for the delegates of TECO-2008 will take place at the Registration Desk, starting on Thursday, 27 November 2008, from 8:30 hours, and will be continuedthroughout the Conference. Delegates will receive identification cards at the time of registration.

4.Post, telephone and telefax services

Participants can be reached at the conference venueatphone number: + 7 812 3212803.Telephone and postal services will be available at the meeting place or in its vicinity.

5.Entry formalities

Delegates from those countries for which visas for the Russian Federation are required has to obtain visas before their departure from the diplomatic or consular missions of the Russian Federation in their respective countries. Visas cannot be issued upon entry to the Russian Federation.

To apply for visa, delegates need to obtain an invitation letter from Federal Service of Russian Federation on Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring – Roshydromet that will arrange visa support. Roshydromet Visa Support Form is available at: The deadline for the submission of the Visa Support Form is 10 October 2008.

6.Currency, exchange rate, use of credit cards

The local currency in the Russian Federation is the Russian ruble (alternatively spelled rouble) and is denoted by “RUB”.At present, the exchange rate is approximately:

1 US$ = 23,5 RUB

1 EURO = 37,2 RUB

All major cards and traveler checks are widely accepted in the Russian Federation.

7.Hotel reservation

IMD Exhibition Company – METEOREX operator provides full range of accommodation andtravel services for the participants of TECO-2008. Delegated are invited to check and fill in the Hotel Reservation Form available at:

8.Travel information

The participants may reach St. Petersburg by air or by train.For extensive information regarding the transportation systems in St. Petersburg, please visit the following web address:

However, delegates are strongly advised to order transfer from/to the airport/railway station to/from their respective hotels. For this reason, delegates are encouraged to contact the hotel in which they have reservation and to request the transport from and to the airport.

Regarding taxi service, the recommended taxi companies are: Taxi Lux + 7812 333 3233, Hyundai Sonata cars; Taxity + 7812320 0200 Ford Focus cars.

9.Geography/Climate

St. Petersburg is located in the NortheasternEurope, and lies on the Eastern shore of the Baltic Sea (Gulf of Finland). It is situated at 59 degrees North Latitude and 30 degrees East Longitude with an altitude of 6m above see level. Climatological data for November are typically as follows:

Mean temperature:-1.9 °C

Mean maximum temperature:+2.0 °C

Mean minimum temperature:-1.9 °C

Mean Total Precipitation: 56 mm

Mean Number of Precipitation Days:12

10.Useful links:

About the Russian Federation and St. Petersburg:

The national airline:

The public transportation authority:

Local/International Exchange Rates:

Weather forecasts:

Governmental Issues:

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs:

News: local and international:

Hotels/Shopping/Restaurants

11.Information service

Further information on the local arrangements, hotel accommodations and other services canbe obtained from the Local Organizing Committee for TECO-2008:

Exhibition Company IMD Corporation

Russia, 196136, St. Petersburg, Frunze, 11

Tel: + 7812 449-13-03, + 7812 449-13-43, + 7812 373-97-92, + 7812 373-97-92

Fax: + 7 812 766-05-87

E-mail:

Internet:

Contact person: Ms. Maria Bykova

E-mail:

Mobile phone: + 7960259 1011

12.Location of the Venue “LenExpo” Exhibition Complex

More detailed mapsare available at:

Information on the Programme and organization of TECO-2008 can be obtained from:

And

Dr I. Rüedi

World Meteorological Organization
Observing and Information Systems Department
P.O. Box 2300
CH1211Geneva2
Switzerland
Tel: (+41 22) 730 8278
Fax: (+41 22) 730 8021
E-mail:

[1] METEOREX-2008 will be officially opened on 27 November 2008, at 13:00 hours