We will provide more information shortly. Please mark your calendar! We hope to see you then.

The series of international conferences on Harmonisation within Atmospheric Dispersion Modelling for Regulatory Purposes is concerned with the improvement of “modelling culture” both in Europe and at an international level.

Dispersion modelling is widely used for regulatory purposes, both for permits and for assessments, but there is a lack of sufficient mechanisms to make modelling processes transparent and generally to ensure trust in modelling results.

There are many aspects of this such as: ensuring that models are scientifically sound; model validation; guidance to ensure proper use of models; promotion of good practices and elimination of bad practices; quality assurance with respect to model development; establishment of reference problems; comparability of input and output; ensuring proper exchange of experiences.

Such issues that are not specific for one particular model, but common to several, are in focus at the 15th International conference on Harmonisation within Atmospheric Dispersion Modelling for Regulatory Purposes.

The conference is a natural forum for discussing modelling issues related to the European Union air quality directives. European networks such as the FAIRMODE network may find the conference useful in order to expose their work to a wider audience.

The entire series of Harmonisation conferences is the result of an initiative launched in 1991 (see www.harmo.org). The conferences have a role as a forum where participating model users and decision-makers can bring their requirements to the attention of scientists.

The EGU General Assembly 2013 will bring together geoscientists from all over the world into one meeting covering all disciplines of the Earth, Planetary and Space Sciences. Especially for young scientists, it is the aim of the EGU to provide a forum where they can present their work and discuss their ideas with experts in all fields of geosciences. The EGU is looking forward to cordially welcoming you in Vienna.

The First International Conference on Remote Sensing and Geo-information of Environment invites scientists, researchers, students, and other professionals in order to address and discuss emerging issues in remote sensing and geo-information of environment. The Keynote Speakers and thought-provoking technical program will encourage the exchange of ideas and provide the foundation for future collaboration and innovation. The Technical Program is open to all topics in Remote Sensing and Geo-information of Environment and related techniques and applications. The success of this conference reflects the critical  topics that are discussed as well as the quality of the presented pape rs. All the papers that are selected undergo a review process.

The RSCY2013 scientific program will accommodate sessions and workshops on a wide range of themes. These include:

• Applications of remote sensing and geo-information
• Remote Sensing & Geo-information in Education and training in school, university and public life
• Environmental monitoring and protection, Risk assessment
• Field Spectroscopy
• Atmospheric Correction methods in pre-processing of satellite imagery
• Cultural heritage
• Remote sensing for archaeology
• Land use and land cover, land-cover changes degradation and desertification
• Satellite Sensors
• Classification of remotely sensed images
• Artificial neural networks
• Urban remote sensing
• Oceans, coastal zones and inland waters
• Natural and man-made disasters, Natural Hazards
• Forestry and forest fires, burned areas
• Land survey, Real Estate, Cartography, Mapping
• Remote sensing  in climate changes, meteorology, atmospheric chemistry
• Air pollution, Water Quality, floods, Water leakages
• Water resources, management, underground water sources
• 3D remote sensing, Radar, Lidar, Thermal Remote Sensing
• New instruments and methods
• Laser Scanning
• Agriculture, evapotranspiration
• GIS
• Integration of Micro-sensor technology with Remote Sensing
• Remote sensing for petroleum exploration
• Geophysics
• Remote Sensing Analysis of earthquakes/ seismic activity
• Applied Meteorology and Climatology
• Atmospheric Physics and Chemistry, Aerosols
• Remote Sensing- Satellite Meteorology and Climatology
• Weather Analysis and Forecasting

The conference will cover a wide variety of major environment-related health concerns. Topics include, but are not limited to outdoor and indoor air pollution, climate change and hazardous chemicals and particles. Environmental justice and possible solutions to the problems of rapidly growing urban areas will have special attention.

Do not miss the opportunity to meet and discuss this rapidly developing field with pre-eminent scientific leaders!

Abstract Submission Deadline: 12th October, 2012

The meeting will consist of a number of invited review talks and contributed papers and posters. The scope of this symposium is lidar application studies, and in particular those that are process-based applications that contribute to studying the state and composition of the atmosphere, including the clouds, aerosols, radiatively important gases and thermodynamic structures of the troposphere and stratosphere. Papers that address this general theme of lidar atmospheric applications and in particular process-based applications are solicited. Sessions are anticipated on lidar networks, space borne lidars, automated operational lidars, long-term climate observations, air pollution applications, lidar data assimilation in numerical weather models, and emerging lidar methods in addressing atmospheric issues. Of particular interest is the use of lidars in conjunction with other instrumentation (e.g. radar-lidar techniques) in pollution, climate and weather studies. Participants with additional suggestions for the program are encouraged to contact the program chairperson.

The theme for the 2013 AMS Annual Meeting is “Taking Predictions to the Next Level: Expanding Beyond Today's Weather and Climate Forecasts and Projections”.  Over the past 60 years the meteorological community has made tremendous strides in making prediction a fundamental part of its scientific and operational/service heritage through the development and application of complex numerical models involving the atmosphere, ocean, land and cryosphere components of the Earth System. This theme will serve as a catalyst for the 2013 AMS annual meeting by focusing the attention of the research and operational communities, including those who are involved in accelerating the transition of research results into operations.  Furthermore, the increasing use of predictions by decision makers throughout federal, state, and local emergency management government agencies and by private/commercial sectors will serve as an important component for this annual meeting along with the extension of predictive capabilities into a broader domain, including public health, food security, air and water quality, alternative energy and responses to climate trends. Lidar remote sensing is expected to play a significant role in these fields and may even be a key instrument required. Abstracts that address these areas are highly encouraged.

For additional information on the organization of the 93rd AMS Annual Meeting, please contact meeting organizers: Belay Demoz, (bbdemoz@howard.edu); Sara Tucker (stucker@ball.com).

The 2007 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) assessment report highlights the scientific and societal importance for improved understanding on the aerosol–cloud-climate interactions to better assess the linkages between anthropogenic activities and climate.  In line with the theme of forecasts and projections, the symposium of Aerosol–Cloud–Climate Interactions will organize sessions and have discussions about the extent to what knowledge of aerosols can be added to the prediction skill, from the weather to the climate scales. The symposium will bring together experts in atmospheric chemistry, aerosols, radiation, clouds, and climate to exchange ideas on the subject of aerosol-cloud-climate interactions. The symposium will include invited and contributed oral and poster sessions.  It will provide a forum to review current research status on this subject, identify research needs, define research priorities and new research approaches, and facilitate dialogue among atmospheric chemists, physicists, and meteorologists to tackle research challenges in aerosol–cloud-climate interactions.

To have a more integrated program and reduce conflicting sessions in the field regarding aerosol-cloud interactions, we will coordinate with other programs especially Atmospheric Chemistry, Weather Modification and Satellite Meteorology to have joint sessions.

Papers are solicited in all aspects relevant to this topic including:

• Cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) and ice nuclei (IN)
• Aerosol direct and indirect radiative forcings
• Impacts of anthropogenic aerosols on clouds, precipitation, circulation, and severe storms (joint with Weather Modification)
• The impacts of secondary organic aerosols (SOA) on climate
• Impacts of natural aerosols (e.g., biogenic, dust, sea salt and smoke) on climate- laboratory, field, satellite, and modeling studies (joint with Atmospheric Chemistry and Satellite Meteorology)
• Aerosol-cloud interaction representations in regional and global models and associated climate impact.
• Chemistry-aerosol-cloud/climate interactions (joint with Atmospheric Chemistry).
• Aerosol-cloud interactions in weather forecast (joint with Weather Modification).

The 2013 meeting will also feature a joint session sponsored by Atmospheric Chemistry, Climate Variability and Change, the Policy Symposium, and the Aerosol-Cloud-Climate Interactions Symposium.  Papers are solicited highlighting policy-relevant research and efforts to connect science and policy in this arena, in keeping with this meeting's thematic emphasis on ‘accelerating the transition of research results into operations.’

Graduate and undergraduate students are highly encouraged to submit an abstract describing your research.  Best student oral presentations and poster papers will be selected at the meeting and awarded by the Atmospheric Chemistry Committee soon after the meeting.

For additional information please contact the chair of the organization committee, Dr Jiwen Fan, Atmospheric Science & Global Change Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA 99352, 509/375-2116 (o), Jiwen.fan@pnl.gov.

The Organization Committee of the 5th Symposium:

Jiwen Fan, PNNL (Chair)

Juliane Fry, Reed College (co-chair)

Leo Donner, GFDL

Sue Van den Heever, Colorado State University

Daniel Rosenfeld, Hebrew Univ. of Jerusalem

Lin Wang, Fudan University

Jon Thompson, Texas Tech University

Terry Lathem, Georgia Tech

Papers are solicited on all aspects of atmospheric chemistry and air quality including field and laboratory measurements, and chemical transport modeling from urban to global scales.  Following the general theme of the annual meeting the 15th Conference on Atmospheric Chemistry is encouraging submission of papers that address:

• Air quality model evaluation by satellite observations
• Wildland fire impacts on air quality and atmospheric chemistry
• High resolution atmospheric monitoring and modeling of industrial chemicals
• Policy relevant background ozone and PM2.5

If you are interested in organizing some special sessions, please feel free to contact the conference co-chairs (see their contact information below).  Graduate and undergraduate students are highly encouraged to submit an abstract describing your research.  Best student oral presentations and poster papers will be selected at the meeting and awarded by the Atmospheric Chemistry Committee soon after the meeting.

For additional information please contact the program chairpersons, Tom Jobson (tjobson@wsu.edu) or Nicole Molders (molders@gi.alaska.edu).

Organizing

Institutes: Turkish State Meteorological Service (TSMS), General Directorate of Combating Desertification and Erosion (CEM) and General Directorate of Forestry (OGM)

Invited Countries: Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, TRNC, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Palestine, Iraq, Iran, Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Jordan, Yemen, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Mauritania, Sudan.

Lecturers:

Prof. Dr. Ercan KAHYA, Istanbul Technical University
Prof. Dr. Emin ÖZSOY, Middle East Technical University
Prof. Dr. M. Jafar NAZEMOSADAT, Shiraz University
Enric TERRADELLAS, Spanish Meteorological Service
Bülent AKSOY, Turkish State Meteorological Service
Kemal DOKUYUCU, Turkish State Meteorological Service
Mustafa YURTSEVEN, Turkish State Meteorological Service
Mesut DEMİRCAN, Turkish State Meteorological Service
Volkan DARENDE, Turkish State Meteorological Service

Contact Point:

Cihan DUNDAR
Turkish State Meteorological Service
Research Department, Division of Atmospheric Models
Tel         : + 90 312 302 26 88
Fax        : + 90 312 361 20 40

E-mail  : cdundar@mgm.gov.tr

Draft Program:

Pictures:

Organized by:

Laboratory for Applied Thermodynamics
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki, Greece

In collaboration with:

Joint Research Centre
Institute for Energy and Transport
Sustainable Transport Unit
Ispra, Italy

Background

In the drylands areas which constitute some 41% of the world, dust storms are the most common meteorological phenomena. Global and regional sources of dust are distributed in wide areas of the world. Arabian Peninsula, Sahara Desert, Mesopotamian Flood Plain, Loes Plateau of China, Australian Desert and others are the most common global sources of dust.

The State of Kuwait is organizing a Regional Conference on Dust storms hazards, characteristics and mitigation from 20th - 22nd of November 2012. Environmental and climate experts from GCC countries and other countries will contribute to the conference. A number of International Specialized Speakers in the areas of dust storms monitoring, prediction and early warning, will be presenting at the event.

The conference offers a good opportunity for researchers and experts from different parts of the world to present new information, knowledge and to exchange ideas on the various issues of dust storms particularly early warning, mitigation and adaptation. Guests from the field and relevant field will be invited.

Sessions

• Session I : Dust Storms Source Areas (Global, Regional and Local)
• Session II : Dust Storms Forecasting , Early Warning and Modelling
• Session III : Interaction between Dust storms and Climate Change
• Session IV : Environmental and Socioeconomic Impact of Dust
• Session V : Management, Mitigation and Adaptation of dust
• Session VI : Ecological benefits of Dust
• Session VII : Advanced approaches to Dust monitoring and assessment (including Geo-informatics)
• Session VIII : Dust composition and associated materials (pollen, microbiological and radioactive materials)

Conference Fees

Registration will be free

Call for papers

The conference accepts two types of presentations:
1. Oral presentation (15 minutes)
2. Poster presentation

Deadlines

30th September 2012 : Deadline for Abstract Submission.
15th October 2012 : Notification of Acceptance.
30th October 2012 : Deadline for full Paper Submission.

release the second announcement of the "II Lectures on Atmospheric Mineral Dust", a training course coordinated by the WMO SDS-WAS Regional Center for Northern Africa, Middle East and Europe

Scientific Committee:

The members of the Scientific Committee are:

José María Baldasano (BSC-CNS)
Emilio Cuevas Agulló (AEMET)
Santiago Gassó (UPC)
Slobodan Nickovic (WMO)
José Prieto (EUMETSAT)

Background:

Scope:

The event is targeted to operational meteorologists as well as to early career scientists (advanced students, PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers) with a background in the Earth system sciences. They are expected to be proficient in English as a working language.

Participants will attend a series of lectures and practical exercises. They will also have the opportunity to participate in some technical visits.  Attendance of international experts on aerosol observation and modelling will ensure an advanced and stimulating learning environment for participants.

Venue and dates:

The event will be held on November 5-9 at:

UPC - Campus Diagonal Nord.- Building VX (Vertex)
Pl. Eusebi Güell, 6
08034 Barcelona - Spain

with a total duration of 25 hours. You may find here a map and information on public transport.

Registration and enrollment:

The cost of the training course is 50 €. It includes the course materials. Registration opens April 16, 2012 and closes September 14, 2012.  Enrollment is limited, and priority is given to early registrants.  If you are in need of financial assistance, please let us know. While we cannot commit to providing scholarships yet, we are working on raising funds to support the attendance of organizations facing financial hardship.  Please contact the WMO SDS-WAS Regional Center for Northern Africa, Middle East and Europe sdswas@aemet.es for any questions.

Certifications:

Appropriate certificates will be awarded at the successful completion of the training course.

Updated agenda:

Technical visits:

Raman and MicroPulse Lidars (UPC)
Sun Photometer (UPC)
Air Quality Monitoring Station and Analysis Laboratory (CSIC - IDAEA)

Documentation (password required)

Transport from and to the airport:

It involves about 30 French laboratories and bilateral cooperative actions are already active with 9 other Mediterranean countries. ChArMEx is one of the sister projects of the regional multidisciplinary programme MISTRALS (Mediterranean Integrated Studies at Regional And Local Scales; www.mistrals-home.org) initiated by INSU and endorsed by the federation of French Agencies ALLENVI and by the International Union for the Mediterranean. MISTRALS aims at understanding the future of the Mediterranean region in a context of strong regional anthropogenic and climatic pressures.

ChArMEx includes seven scientific work packages on emissions, chemical processes, transport processes, aerosol-regional climate interactions, deposition and biogeochemical impact, variability and trends, and the future of the atmospheric chemistry in the Mediterranean region. ChArMEx relies on an integrated strategy that combines monitoring in a network of background stations throughout the basin, intensive field campaigns with airborne means, satellite remote sensing, and coupled chemistry-transport and chemistry-climate models. ChArMEx observational plans include a major field experiment with airborne means in summer 2013 in the western Mediterranean, and a pre-campaign in late June-early July 2012 in the northwestern basin.

After the first two international ChArMEx workshops at Toulouse in 2009 and Barcelona in 2010 during the ChArMEx preparatory phase, this third international workshop will be the first held during the operational phase of the project. The workshop will include plenary presentations and parallel working group meetings. Optional visits of field operation sites in Corsica will be organised. The proposed location and schedule are timely and appropriate to fullfill the following main workshop objectives :

1. assessing and networking on-going atmospheric chemistry monitoring activities throughout the Mediterranean basin, as well as early analyses of satellite and model data sets;
2. making an early assessment of the June-July 2012 pre-campaign, and sharing lessons in view of the 2013 campaign;
3. organising the 2013 campaign and fostering new contributions and international cooperation;
4. visiting sites for field operations in Corsica, belonging to the project CORSiCA (Corsican Observatory for Research and Studies on Climate and Atmosphere-ocean environment, http://www.aero.obs-mip.fr/spip.php?article658) which is a project for the development of a multi-site instrumented platform located in Corsica in the framework of ChArMEx and HyMeX (http://www.hymex.org/).

The scientific committee is formed by Peter BUILTJES (TNO), Adolf EBEL (EURAD), and José María BALDASANO (BSC-CNS).  Local organizers are Maria Teresa PAY (BSC-CNS), Santiago GASSÓ (BSC-CNS, UPC) and Sara IBAÑEZ (BSC-CNS).

The workshop will be held at the School of Industrial Engineering of Barcelona (ETSEIB) from the Technical University of Catalonia (UPC).

Abstracts and presentations

The AAAR 31^st Annual Conference will take place in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, on October 8-12, 2012. As usual, the conference will feature a full slate of tutorials on Monday, followed by invited plenary talks, special symposia, poster presentations, platform presentations, and special events from Tuesday morning through Friday noon. The plenary lectures at the start of each morning will be given by distinguished scientists with expertise spanning multiple areas of aerosol science and technology. We will have three special symposia this year covering different aspects of aerosol science: (1) Synthesis of Functional Materials Using Flames, Plasmas and Other Aerosol Methods; (2) Aerosol Nucleation: From Clusters to Nanoparticles; (3) The Indoor Microbiome. In addition, the program will include the customary sessions on aerosol chemistry, aerosol physics, urban aerosols, aerosols, clouds and climate, remote and regional atmospheric aerosols, carbonaceous aerosols, aerosol source apportionment, combustion, nanoparticles and materials synthesis, aerosol control technology, health-related aerosols, history of aerosol science, indoor aerosols, aerosol exposure, aerosol instrumentation and methods, and aerosols and homeland security. The technical program will feature parallel platform and poster sessions with several scheduled breaks for informal exchange. The exhibit area, open Tuesday through Thursday, will provide opportunities to engage with and learn from leading companies offering instrumentation and services in aerosol science and technology.

This year’s conference will be held at the Hyatt Regency Minneapolis. The hotel is situated in downtown Minneapolis, close to many attractions and restaurants the city has to offer. Those of you who attended the previous AAAR conference at this location in 2009 will be surprised by the changes in the hotel décor. The hotel is currently under extensive renovations which are scheduled to finish in May 2012, five months before the conference. Local attractions include the Minneapolis Zoo, Como Park, Mall of America, the Walker Arts Center, the Guthrie Theater, and the Orpheum Theatre. Minneapolis is home to the University of Minneapolis, the hub for premier aerosol research. It is also home to several companies specializing in aerosol technology.