Course Welcome and Guide

Welcome!

If you are a forecaster with little or no knowledge about Atmospheric Composition, these modules will help you learn the basics and provide you with guidance and practice in selecting and using globally available products from satellites, networks, and numerical models throughout the lifecycle of extreme events, such as Sand and Dust Storms.

The modules are designed for independent learners who prefer the flexibility to study at their own pace. There are no scheduled classes or live facilitation, allowing you to tailor your learning experience to fit your personal schedule. We acknowledge that this can be a solitary experience, so feel free to take this course alongside colleagues to share the journey. Additionally, if you have any questions, feedback, or requests, you can use the Feedback form, which we commit to reviewing.

Why these modules now?

The most recent IPCC and WMO State of the Global Climate reports show a clear increase in temperatures, evaporation, drought and melting of glaciers. At the global scale, year by year, we are seeing broken records in the greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O). This has led to an increase in the amount and severity of weather extremes. It has also increased the frequency of sand & dust storms (SDS) and wildfires, and contributed to the worsening of the air quality. 

Due to this increase in the amount and severity of extreme weather, monitoring & forecasting of SDS, wildfires and volcanoes is becoming an increasingly common challenge for the day to day work of weather forecasters. 

While data for tracking such events is available, selecting the suitable products can be difficult for forecasters not used to working with atmospheric composition principles.