SDS Warning Advisory and Assessment System
Image source: dust.aemet.es
Sand and Dust Storm Warning Advisory and Assessment System (SDS-WAS)
SDS-WAS is a research initiative of the World Meteorological Organization that serves as an international framework linking institutions involved in SDS research, operations and delivery of services. SDS-WAS will address the following objectives based on the SDS-WAS Science and Implementation Plan 2020-2025:
- Facilitate international coordinated research through the Earth system approach to advance SDS forecasting and improved integration of the SDS in general air quality and chemical weather forecasting in response to user requirements towards more tailored services.
- Provide research components sufficiently matured to be appropriate for operational implementation.
- Promote the use of dust products through the organisation of training activities.
- Build capacity at regional and international scales to enhance international collaboration and to enlarge the SDS monitoring and modelling capabilities.
The World Meteorological Organization has currently four regional SDS-WAS nodes and centres providing dust regional forecast:
- WMO SDS-WAS Regional Node for Northern Africa, Middle East and Europe, coordinated by a Regional Centre in Barcelona, Spain, hosted by the State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) and the Barcelona Supercomputing Centre (BSC)
- WMO SDS-WAS Regional Node for Asia, coordinated by a Regional Centre in Beijing, China, that is hosted by the China Meteorological Administration (CMA)
- WMO SDS-WAS Regional Node for the Americas, coordinated by a Regional Centre in Barbados hosted by the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH)
- WMO SDS-WAS Regional Node for Gulf Cooperation Council countries, coordinated by a Regional Center in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, hosted by National Center for Meteorology (NCM)
