1. 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

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

3. 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) …

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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 MODIS Rapid Response Team:

8. 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

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

10. 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.

11. 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

12. 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

13. 5-9 Nov 2012: II Lectures on Atmospheric Mineral Dust. Barcelona

14. 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)

15. 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)

16. 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

17. 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

18. Thanks for your attention !!