1. WWRP- GAW 1 SDS Training Course, Antalya, Turkey, Nov 2011 WMO governing bodies

2. WWRP- GAW 2 SDS Training Course, Antalya, Turkey, Nov 2011 WMO Research Program Components

3. WWRP- GAW 3 SDS Training Course, Antalya, Turkey, Nov 2011 SDS-WAS Node structure

4. WWRP- GAW 4 SDS Training Course, Antalya, Turkey, Nov 2011 EGYPTAIR - ACCIDENT CAUSED BY DUST STORM http://edition.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/africa/05/07/tunis.crash/index.html TUNIS, Tunisia (CNN) 7 May, 2002, 17:44 GMT -- An EgyptAir jet crashed on a hillside outside Tunisia's capital Tuesday as the pilot attempted to make an emergency landing, killing at least 18 people, a government official said… …Weather was foggy and rainy at the time, with sandstorms blowing in from the Sahara Desert....

5. WWRP- GAW 5 SDS Training Course, Antalya, Turkey, Nov 2011 EGYPTAIR ACCIDENT AGAIN: ROUTINE PREDICTION OF THE DUST STORM Predicted dust load (μg m -2 ) Site of the accident 06 UTC, 7 May 2002 18-hr forecast Predictions by DREAM model (Nickovic et al., 2001) at ICoD, University of Malta Predicted cross-section dust concentration (μg m -3 ) 12 UTC, 7 May 2002 24-hr forecast 18 UTC, 7 May 2002 30-hr forecast 06 UTC, 7 May 2002 18-hr forecast 18 UTC, 7 May 2002 30-hr forecast 12 UTC, 7 May 2002 24-hr forecast Tunisian dust storm captured by MODIS Source: Steven D. Miller, NRL, Monterey Features of the case: - Major Mediterranean dust storm - Fast moving system - More than 5 mg m -3 in the elevated dust cloud core! dust

6. WWRP- GAW 6 SDS Training Course, Antalya, Turkey, Nov 2011 ABRIDGED FINAL REPORT OF THE FIFTEENTH SESSION OF THE COMMISSION FOR ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES, 2009  WWRP, GAW  Thanks to China and Spain for hosting regional centres  SDS-WAS - coordinating a broad research agenda to improve weather and climate prediction with dust incorporated

7. WWRP- GAW 7 SDS Training Course, Antalya, Turkey, Nov 2011  review of the SDS-WAS implementation done by CBS. The GDPFS Manual (WMO-No. 485) of CBS is intended to facilitate cooperation among Members to ensure adequate standardization in the good practices and procedures in operational forecasting and data processing. CAS recommended ad-hoc joint task team with representatives from the CBS and CAS to prepare an amendment to the GDPFS Manual covering the various operational aspects of the SDS-WAS.

8. WWRP- GAW 8 SDS Training Course, Antalya, Turkey, Nov 2011  SDS-WAS regional Nodes to adopt common standards for data exchange formats, graphical presentation of forecasts and data exchange.  to develop sand and dust forecast verification and assessment tools to evaluate model performance using near-real-time observations. Urged to interact with the Working Group on Forecast Verification Research for the preparation of reference material on verification

9. WWRP- GAW 9 SDS Training Course, Antalya, Turkey, Nov 2011 Request from the WWRP JSC, 2011  listed recent scientific papers published by the SDS- WAS partners.  Secretariat finalizes operational procedures to designate appropriate SDS-WAS partners performing operational dust forecasting who are capable of providing sustained operations as RSMC centres.  Explore possibility of distributing dust-related data through the WMO WIS (or GTS).  Collaboration with the Verification WG to improve dust forecast verification.

10. WWRP- GAW 10 SDS Training Course, Antalya, Turkey, Nov 2011 61st Executive Council, 2011  The Council encouraged continued cooperation of CAS and CBS so that a rapid transition from research to operational forecasting can occur.  It encouraged workshops and training sessions that serve to involve in SDS-WAS countries.

11. WWRP- GAW 11 SDS Training Course, Antalya, Turkey, Nov 2011 16th WMO Congress, 2011  Congress supported CAS and CBS efforts to specify an optimal concept of transferring research on numerical dust forecasting to operational activity where possible.  Congress also encouraged participation of SDS-WAS in the interdisciplinary project “Meningitis Environmental Risk Information Technologies” (MERIT) in providing information to MERIT partners on dusty weather conditions which are considered to be correlated to meningitis epidemics in the Sahel.

12. WWRP- GAW 12 SDS Training Course, Antalya, Turkey, Nov 2011 CAS Management Group, November 2011  welcomed request of CBS to collaborate with the Commission for Atmospheric Science (CAS) to determine the role of CBS Global Data-Processing and Forecasting System (GDPFS) SDS Specialized Centres with the appropriate operational and research capabilities. MG gave its support to the establishment of the CBS GDPFS SDS Specialized Centre in Spain (AEMET and BSC).  noted that biomass burning is an important issue and that through the planned cross-cutting “Forest Fires Workshop” for 2012 concrete plans on how CAS/GAW/WWR should address this, should be put together. The example of SDS-WAS could perhaps be used.

13. WWRP- GAW 13 SDS Training Course, Antalya, Turkey, Nov 2011 CBS review of the draft SDS-WAS Implementation Plan Mandatory Functions of SDS-WAS RC  As with any other type of GDPFS centre, the mandatory functions to be performed by the SDS-WAS RCs will need to be specified in the Manual. Typically, the mandatory functions are operational activities, products and services, and training, such as:  operational products / activities  generation of mandatory SDS products : observation, analysis and forecast  interpretation and assessment of mandatory SDS products  generation of warning advisories based on mandatory SDS products  verification and evaluation of mandatory SDS products

14. WWRP- GAW 14 SDS Training Course, Antalya, Turkey, Nov 2011  operational services  dissemination of SDS products and warning advisories through the WIS and on Internet to partners/users  dissemination of the verification of SDS products  ongoing technical support (maintenance)  technical information and training in the use of SDS products and services  provision of the information on methodologies and product specifications of mandatory SDS products  provision of guidance on their use  organising training  It should be noted that research activities, while absolutely necessary for the development of the SDS-WAS, do not fall within the scope of the GDPFS as such and are not covered in the Manual.