The prize, established in 1956, consists of a 14-carat gold medal 57mm in diameter, displaying the official WMO emblem and on the reverse the Latin inscription Pro singulari erga scientiam meteorologicam merito (for outstanding work on the science of meteorology), together with a cash award of 10,000 Swiss Francs. It was named to commemorate the International Meteorological Organization, the predecessor organisation of the current World Meteorological Organization.