Atmospheric Dust educational module by the COMET Program

Summary

The COMET Program is pleased to announce the publication of the new module "Atmospheric Dust". 

Atmospheric dust storms are common in many of the world's semi-arid and arid regions and can impact local, regional, and even global weather, agriculture, public health, transportation, industry, and ocean health. This module takes a multifaceted approach to studying atmospheric dust storms. The first chapter examines the impacts of dust storms, the physical processes involved in their life cycle, their source regions, and their climatology. The second chapter explores satellite products (notably dust RGBs) and dust models used for dust detection and monitoring, and presents a process for forecasting dust storms. The third and final chapter of the module examines the major types of dust storms: those that are synoptically forced, such as pre- and post-frontal dust storms and those induced by large-scale trade winds; and those caused by mesoscale systems such as downslope winds, gap flow, convection, and inversion downburst storms.

Objectives:

  • Describe the physical processes involved in the life cycle of dust storms
  • Identify the characteristics of dust-prone areas
  • Identify the main types of satellite-based products used for dust detection and monitoring
  • Discuss the benefits and limitations of using single channel and RGB products for dust detection and monitoring
  • Identify various types of dust storms in single channel imagery and RGB products
  • Describe a process for forecasting dust storms that includes satellite products and model data
  • Describe the major types of synoptically-forced dust storms and those caused by mesoscale systems

You can access the Atmospheric Dust module here

16 March 2012

Online

Presented by

COMET Program

Event type

Webinar

Time

Whole day

Language

English

Duration

Open end

Barcelona Dust Regional Center