Atmospheric Sand and Dust: from Research to Operational Forecast Enric Terradellas (1), José M. Baldasano (2) and Emilio Cuevas (1) (1) AEMET, Spain (2) BSC-CNS, Spain WMO SDS-WAS programme. Regional Center for Northern Africa, Middle East and Europe

Sand and Dust Storms Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 10 Mar 2009 Photo: Jad Saab/AP MODIS. 3 Mar 2004

Impacts of Atmospheric Sand and Dust Human health: respiratory diseases, infections (meningitis) Weather forecast and climate (radiation, clouds) Economy (mainly related to reduced visibility) Environment (negative and positive) …

WMO SDS-WAS programme Mission: To enhance the capacity of countries to produce and deliver to end users timely and precise sand and dust storm forecasts. Structure: Regional Center for Northern Africa, Middle East and Europe. Barcelona, Spain Regional Center for Asia, Beijing, China Regional Center for Pan America, Orange, Ca, US Salmiya, Hawalli, Kuwait Photo: Steve & Jemma Copley, 15 Feb 2008

The Regional Center for NA-ME-E It is managed by a consortium of the Spanish State Met. Agency (AEMET) and the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC-CNS) Nexus II building. Campus Nord Catalonia Technical Univ. Barcelona MareNostrum supercomputer

Objectives of the Regional Center Identify and improve products to monitor and predict atmospheric dust by working with research and operational organizations, as well as with users Facilitate user access to information Strengthen the capacity of countries to use the observations, analysis and predictions provided by the WMO SDS-WAS programme MODIS Terra 22 June 2009. MODIS Rapid Response Team:

http://sds-was.aemet.es sdswas@aemet.es

Comparison of dust prediction models INSTITUTION RUN TIME CONTACT BSC-DREAM8b BSC-CNS 12 J. M. Baldasano CHIMERE LMD 00 L. Menut LMDzT-INCA LSCE M. Schulz MACC-ECMWF ECMWF J. J. Morcrette DREAM-NMME-MACC SEEVCCC G. Pejanovic NMMB/BSC-Dust MetUM U. K. Met Office D. Walters NASA-GEOS-5 NASA A. Da Silva VARIABLES: Dust surface concentration – Dust Optical Depth at 550 nm LEAD TIME: 0 – 72 hours every 3 hours GEOGRAPHICAL DOMAIN: 25ºW – 60ºE, 0 – 65ºN

Joint visualization. Dust AOD at 550 nm RUN: 2 Sep 2012 VALID: 2 Sep 2012 12:00 – 5 Sep 2012 00:00

Verification with AERONET data 11 AERONET stations are managed by AEMET or the BSC-CNS OUARZAZATE (Morocco). PI: E. Cuevas (AEMET) and T. Zaidouni (DMN) Ongoing research: Verification of surface concentration using PM10 from air quality monitoring stations and horizontal visibility from METAR/SYNOP. Verification of vertical profiles using data from lidar and ceilometers.

Capacity building 8-12 Nov 2010: Training Week on Satellite Meteorology. Barcelona 13 Nov 2010: Lectures on Atmospheric Mineral Dust and its Impact on Human Health, Environment and Economy. Barcelona 15-19 Nov 2010 Training Week on WMO SDS-WAS products. Barcelona

22-26 Feb 2011: Training on Meteorological Services, SDS Forecast and Early Warning System. Istanbul, Turkey 21-25 Nov 2011: 2nd Training Course on WMO SDS-WAS (satellite and ground observation and modelling of atmospheric dust). Antalya, Turkey

5-9 Nov 2012: II Lectures on Atmospheric Mineral Dust. Barcelona

The CBS proposes the creation of Regional Specialized Meteorological Centers with Specialization on Atmospheric Sand and Dust Forecast Spain (AEMET + BSC-CNS) applies to host the RSMC-ASDF BARCELONA (Northern Africa, Middle East and Europe)

RSMC-ASDF Mandatory Functions I Real time functions (1/2) Prepare regional forecast fields using a dust forecast model continuously throughout the year on a daily basis. The model shall consist of a numerical numerical weather prediction model incorporating on-line parameterizations of all the major phases of the atmospheric dust cycle Generate forecasts of the following minimum set of variables: Dust load (kgm-2) Dust concentration at the surface (µgm-3) Dust optical depth at 550 nm (-) 3-hour accumulated dry and wet deposition (kgm-2)

RSMC-ASDF Mandatory Functions I Real time functions (2/2) Forecasts shall cover the period from the starting forecast time (00 and/or 12 UTC) up to a forecast time of at least 72 hours, with an output frequency of at least 3 hours. They shall cover the whole designated area. The horizontal resolution shall be finer than about 0.5x0.5 degrees Disseminate through the GTS/WIS and provide on its web portal the forecast products in pictorial form not later than 12 hours after the starting forecast time Issue an explanatory note on the webportal when operations are stopped due to technical problems

RSMC-ASDF Mandatory Functions II Non-real time functions Store the generated products in WMO GRIB format Maintain the webportal built to display forecast products as well as additional information Perform seasonal and annual forecast evaluation based on available observational data Issue annual activity reports Support user training courses Provide information on methodologies and product specifications and guidance on their use

Thanks for your attention !! http://sds-was.aemet.es sdswas@aemet.es