Sand and Dust Storms (SDS) play a significant role in different aspects of weather, climate and atmospheric chemistry and represent a serious hazard for life, health, property, environment and economy. Understanding, managing and mitigating SDS risks and effects requires fundamental and cross-disciplinary knowledge.

Over the last few years, numerical prediction and observational products from the ground- and satellite platforms have become prominent at research and operational weather centres due to growing interest from diverse stakeholders, such as solar energy plant managers, health professionals, aviation and policymakers. Current attempts to transfer tailored products to end-users are not coordinated, and the same technological and social obstacles are tackled individually by all different groups, a process that makes the use of data slow and expensive.

inDust (International Network to Encourage the Use of Monitoring and Forecasting Dust Products) is the COST Action CA16202. Its overall objective is to establish a network involving research institutions, service providers and potential end-users of information on airborne dust. Because, airborne dust transport has multi- and trans-disciplinary effects at local, regional and global scales; inDust involves a multidisciplinary group of international experts on aerosol measurements, regional aerosol modelling, stakeholders and social scientists. inDust also searches to coordinate and harmonise the process of transferring dust observation and prediction data to users as well as to assist the diverse socio-economic sectors affected by the presence of high concentrations of airborne mineral dust. These objectives are aligned with the mission of the WMO Sand and Dust Storm Warning Advisory and Assessment System (SDS-WAS) programme.