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Global Air Quality Forecasting and Information System (GAFIS)

Activity Areas (1)

Global Atmosphere Watch Programme (GAW)

"Global Air Quality Forecasting and Information System (GAFIS) Implementation Plan: 2022–2026"

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Introduction

Air pollution represents a serious environmental problem. Each year, 7 million premature deaths are attributed to air pollution, with huge economic consequences – estimates indicate $5 trillion in welfare losses and $255 billion in lost income (World Bank Report, 2016). Furthermore, air pollution is detrimental for ecosystems, damages property, impacts visibility and haze, and threatens food and water security. Some pollutants such as tropospheric ozone are also climate forcers while aerosols tend to produce atmospheric cooling. 

A new science for services initiative of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) Programme --Global Air Quality Forecasting and Information System (GAFIS) will help support the health community, international partners and society, with globally consistent air quality forecasting and information systems that operate from the global to regional to urban scale. 
 

Objectives 

The high-level objective of GAFIS is: “to enable and provide air quality forecasting and information services in a globally harmonized and standardized way tailored to the needs of society”.

GAFIS will builds a platform for providers and users of air quality forecast and information systems. It will enable access to, and use of, air quality prediction and analysis products at various temporal and spatial scales and bring the atmospheric composition component to WMO’s Earth System approach for developing NWP and Climate monitoring and modelling.

GAFIS will develop harmonized standards of operations by primarily looking at existing WMO standards and in the context of the Global Data Processing and Forecasting System (GDPFS). Additionally, it will be fully inclusive, comprising operational activities as well as pre-operational and experimental ones to engage with the entire community.

GAFIS will coordinate activities to help Developing and Least Developed Countries in reaching their air quality standards and Sustainable Development Goals. GAFIS will promote that air quality related products and services freely and openly.
 

Implementation 

GAFIS will serve as an international coordinating mechanism and establish and propagate consistent methods and standards for existing and upcoming air quality forecasting and monitoring services, as well as for air quality observations used for air quality forecast evaluation.

The GAFIS implementation plan is currently developed focusing on the following topical areas:

  • Capacity development and user interaction for Air Quality Forecast and Information Systems 
  • Good Practice for Air Quality Forecast and Information Systems
  • Observations required for Air Quality Forecast and Information Systems
  • Scientific and operational synergies between Air Quality Forecasting and Numerical Weather Prediction"
Fig. Schematic overview of potential GAW service

Fig. Schematic overview of potential GAW service

 

Activities

As a first step of setting up GAFIS, we are performing the survey on the air quality forecasting system you operate and the products you provide. We encourage you to share this survey with your community to make sure a wide range AQ forecast is catalogued. The results of the survey will be shared with all participants and the air quality community. We really appreciate your taking the time and providing the input!

The survey is available here.

We share a list of entries linking to near-real-time air quality forecast, which is available here.

 

  • Air quality forecast intercomparisons

  1. North American Air Quality Multi Model Forecast Evaluation

  2. Operational Air Quality Model Inter-Comparison for Asia Region

  3. Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi 

 

  • Training

To be updated.

 

GAFIS Steering Committee

Member List

ToRs

 

Partners 

The contributions from other partners are open. We particularly engage the WMO operational community.

 

Publications:

 

Events and conferences