Regional Node Northern Africa - Middle East - Europe (SDSWAS NA-ME-E)

1. Regional Node Northern Africa - Middle East - Europe (SDSWAS NA-ME-E) Summary of Activities since last RSG meeting, November 2008, Tunis Michael Schulz Norwegian Meteorological Institute, Oslo, Norway

2. Objectives of SDS-WAS • The SDS-WAS, as an international framework linking institutions involved in SDS research, operations and delivery of services, will address the following objectives: • Provide user communities access to forecasts, observations and information of the SDS through regional nodes to be connected to the WMO Information System (WIS) and the World Wide Web. • Support research leading to better understanding and modelling the atmospheric dust process • Identify and improve SDS products to be delivered to user communities • Enhance operational SDS forecasts through technology transfer from research • Improve forecasting and observation technology through coordinated international research and assessment • Build capacity of relevant countries to be trained to utilize SDS observations products for meeting societal needs • Build bridges between SDS-WAS and other communities conducting aerosol related studies (air quality, biomass burning, etc.)

3. Research Focii of SDS-WAS • Improved dust source specification and parameterization • Influence of local and mesoscale atmospheric processes on dust storm generation • Advanced methods in observing the SDS, including surface-based, aircraft and satellite methods • 4-D assimilation of dust-related observations • Studying direct and indirect radiative forcing effects of dust in atmospheric weather and climate models • The role of dust as ice nuclei affecting storm development and precipitation • Dust impact on high impact hydrometeorological and environmental phenomena (e.g. monsoons, tropical cyclones, mesoscale convective complexes, flooding and droughts) • Developing ensemble systems for SDS prediction • Dust and health issues • Photochemical effects of dust and its impact on atmospheric ozone and other oxidants • Impact of dust on marine productivity • SDS reanalysis studies producing dust climatologies • SDS model validation and model intercomparisons

4. Overview of achievements/activities since 2008 (I) Formulation, Revision and Update of Scientific Implementation Plan Formulation of working group tasks (via wiki page) Establishment of Regional Center at BSC with dedicated staff support from AEMET SDS WAS web portal with multiple freely available products&information => Pooling of information relevant for SDS Participation to efforts to increase the observational capacity for mineral dust (Sun photometer deployment, PM in Spain, Fennec campaign, Satellite retrieval over Northern Africa, Caliop vertical profiles, dust benchmark compilation, visibility data usage) 2 Training Courses held on Satellite product usage and SDS (2010,2011) ESA-SDS workshop on the potential of satellite products for SDS (Nov 2009) SDS-GESAMP workshop « Impact of Dust on Marine Biogeochemistry », March 2011 Dust workshop in Athens September 2011

5. Overview of achievements/activities since 2008 (II) Proposals for forecast model usage, as well as joint model intercomparison and evaluation have been circulated Preliminary 3hourly dust forecast model data from BSC, ECMWF, LSCE are transferred on routine basis to regional center at BSC, pilot visualisation with common colour code achieved NRT evaluation of dust and aerosol model products is done at BSC, ECMWF and MetNo Cooperation and contacts established toAsian node of SDS-WASMACC Monitoring Atmospheric Composition and Climate EU project ICAP International Cooperative for Aerosol Prediction AeroCom Aerosol Model Intercomparison Initiative WMO CAS/CBS see Slobodans presentation MERIT Meningitis Environmental Risk Information Technologies GESAMPGroup of Experts on Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection GAW Global Atmospheric Watch (GALION lidar network, SAG)

6. SDS WAS implementation plan for next years • enhancing NRT effective cooperation between partners in regional nodes, that will include exchanging of agreed observations and model products (2011-2013) • Developing and implementing a routine verification system. (2012-2014) • strengthening cooperation with organizations/networks/projects providing SDS-related observations (NASA, ESA, GALION, AEONET, etc. (continuous) • proposing Trust Fund establishment (2011) • models inter-comparisons (2012-) • dust reanalysis (2012-) • ensemble forecasting (2014-) • Considering establishing new nodes and/or sub-nodes (Americas, SE Asia, Australia) (2012-) • Establishing RDP/FDP projects (continuous) • Supporting field campaigns, to be used for a better understanding of the SDS process, to evaluate of model performance. • Data assimilation (2011-) • Establishing user-oriented studies (e.g. case studies of events affecting air/ground transport; studies linking public health and dust, etc.) (continuous) • Studies on emission process (continuous) • Mineral dust fractions; impact of deposited dust on environment (continuous)

7. Flow of information in SDS Development of products ?? retour ?? Joint research projects ?? retour ??