Training Module

Detection of Dust with MSG

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 globally-relevant three-hour 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 that are used for dust detection and monitoring. It also 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.

This training module was produced by COMET with the sponshorship and contribution of EUMETSAT and EUMeTrain.

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Filed under Keywords:

Dust, Nowcasting, Aviation, Dust Storm, Source Region, Dust Removal, Calipso, Dust Model, Postfrontal, Prefrontal, Shamal, Harmattan, Haboob, Dust Squall, Bodele Depression, COMET, Inversion Downburst