Press releases

Press Release No. 799

For use of the information media. Not an official record

WMO Sand and Dust Storm Warning System: Protect Lives, Reduce Economic Risks

Geneva, 2 November 2007 (WMO) – Storms generated in arid parts of the world can cause thousands of tonnes of airborne sand and dust to deposit in cities and cross continents, exposing populations to airborne diseases, affecting air and ground transport and damaging crops. Now, the World Meteorological Organization and partners are implementing an early warning system to help countries minimize such risks.

The WMO Sand and Dust Storm Warning System will be the focus of a landmark meeting being held 7-9 November at the Barcelona Supercomputing Centre, Spain (http://salam.upc.es/wmo/). The meeting attracting over 80 experts and WMO Members, is co-sponsored by WMO and the Group on Earth Observations and hosted by the Spanish National Institute of Meteorology, the Barcelona Super Computing Centre and the Spanish Council for Science.

More than 40 countries want such a global system to coordinate and deliver advanced forecasts produced by meteorological centres around the world. These forecasts predict when and where plumes of sand and dust, starting in deserts like the Sahara and the Gobi, will appear and provide governments, businesses and communities with information necessary to minimize impacts.

Three communities will meet in Spain, including:  “modellers,” who produce sand and dust forecasts (like weather forecasts) using numerical weather prediction techniques; “observation experts,” who generate observations and information used by modellers through satellites, surface-based networks and aircraft; and “users,” who apply the forecasts. Amongst these are government agencies involved in risk reduction, the media, health experts and researchers.

The warning system supported by WMO Member countries can inform users and coordinate regional activities up to five days in advance of sand and dust storm risks through WMO Regional SDS Warning Centres. Two centres are operating in China and Spain and another is being considered in the United States of America to assist WMO Members national efforts.

Through strong national, regional and global cooperation, sand and dust forecasts and warnings can be better tailored to user needs. WMO ensures all parts of the world affected by dust have access to dust storm forecast and analysis products.

Sand and dust storms carry mineral aerosols that aggravate chronic cardiovascular and respiratory diseases in people and animals. They can also carry disease, including spores responsible for Valley Fever. Evidence links dusty weather to meningitis in arid African regions. Dust storm-affected areas have high instances of asthma and result in reduced school attendance.

The onset of natural hazards, such as drought, which can be linked to changing weather and climate, as well as inappropriate forestry and farming techniques, can spur erosion by sand and dust storms. This can result in long-range airborne transport and deposit of nutrients and toxic materials by sand and dust storms, including airborne fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides and chemical wastes that accompany airborne soil particles.

WMO is the United Nations’ authoritative voice on weather, climate and water
For more information please contact:
Ms Carine Richard-Van Maele, Chief, Communications and Public Affairs, WMO.
Tel: +41 (0)22 730 83 15.

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