The creation of the AXA Chair on Sand and Dust Storms at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC) will enable new knowledge, cutting-edge technology and capabilities to better understand and predict SDS and their effects, and manage their impacts across multiple spatial and temporal scales for the benefit of society.
This unprecedented program will improve our understanding of SDS and their variability; quantify dust effects upon weather, climate, atmospheric chemistry and ocean biogeochemistry; develop and distribute skillful SDS short- and medium-range forecasts and long-range dust predictions and projections; assess SDS impacts upon key sectors of society and economy; and promote capacity building, technology transfer, dissemination and public engagement.
This will be achieved through a comprehensive long-term program integrating fundamental research, operational forecasting, impact research, user-oriented products and services, technology transfer, capacity building and knowledge dissemination.
Understanding, managing and mitigating SDS risks and effects requires fundamental and cross-disciplinary knowledge underpinned by state-of-the-art scientific research, the availability of reliable information on SDS trends and current conditions, the provision of skillful forecasts and projections tailored to a diversity of users, and the capacity to use the information effectively.
Challenges
At present, researchers in this area are confronted by major challenges, including:
- Poor understanding of some key physical processes controlling dust aerosols and their effects at multiple spatial and temporal scales.
- Lack of reliable dust information in many countries affected by SDS.
- Large uncertainties of current SDS forecasts on time scales from days to a week.
- Severe lack of knowledge and capabilities for long-range dust prediction (from months to decades).
- Limited integration of dust information and forecasts into practice and policy.