World Meteorological Organization

Core activities
● Facilitate research related to the atmospheric aerosols working closely with the relevant international programmes and projects, as well as through joint activities with other major environmental science activities working on atmospheric chemistry, aerosol processes, numerical weather prediction, effects research, climate research, etc.;
● Articulate the needs for the global atmospheric ground-based observing system research infrastructure to support aerosol related global environmental research specifically targeting the role of aerosol on air quality, regional weather and climate and help to establish it, including, by promotion, the expansion of observations particularly in regions where data are sparse or inexistent and supervising the categorization of stations according to GAW stations criteria;
● Analyse variability and trends in aerosol abundance, composition and properties at global, regional and urban scales and provide guidance to expert teams on the need for further development of technologies and methods for monitoring to support this analysis;
● Promote initiatives towards an integrated view of the aerosol role in climate and air quality through integration of aircraft and satellite observations with surface measurements in model systems and data analyses; in particular, provide guidance on incorporating atmospheric aerosols into the earth system modelling approach for land, ice, oceans and the atmosphere;
● Support efforts across the GAW value chain to ensure that a clear and comprehensive high-quality data provision chain is maintained operational, easily accessible and widely open, fully responding to expectations of research communities worldwide, by monitoring its usage and analysing feedbacks from its users, reported by expert teams; promote timely data delivery;
● Promote better coordination of the regional networks worldwide and contribute to the establishment of regional networks where they do not exist. In particular, maintain and develop activities of the GALION network and promote the establishment of an International Network for Near-Surface observations as recommended in GAW Report No. 207;
● Provide regular assessments related to the quantification of variability and trends of aerosol properties on global and regional scales to the science communities and relevant stakeholders, ensure participation of GAW-related communities, and the use of GAW services in international environmental assessments (IPCC, GEO, etc.);
● Stimulate the development of user-oriented products and services and enhance the use of observations to support compliance with emission-reduction treaties;
● Assist/supervise the development of the relevant training materials and training delivery and support capacity building activities, in particular in emerging and developing countries.
Interface with SAG
● Work together with the other thematic SAGs to develop integrated analyses targeting global challenges such as the nitrogen cycle, air pollution impacts on agriculture and natural ecosystems, and the role of short-lived climate forcers on regional weather and climate.
Interface with Expert Teams
● Work closely with ET-ACMQ on the assessment of the new or emerging technologies and methods for aerosol measurements, development of the QA/QC tools and update of CIMO guidance;
● Work closely with ET-ACMQ on the establishment of good practice guidelines and common procedures for quality assurance with particular focus on the establishment of new Regional Calibration Centres and Regional Data Centres in the different WMO regions;
● Work closely with ET-ACNDE on the development of the user requirements for the application relevant to aerosol, assessing the current observational capabilities versus user requirements, reviewing and updating the OSCAR database and producing regular gap analysis reports that can lead to recommendations on the network development (e.g. the “statement of guidance”);
● Provide direction to the WDCA with regard to data archival and availability as well as data processing and creation of products and services to meet science for service’s needs, including metadata requirements.
Interface with GAW Initiatives Steering Committees
● Advise GAW Initiatives Steering Committees on the recent developments, observational and modelling capabilities related to aerosol.
Interface with WMO groups
● Collaborate with the WMO and co-sponsored programmes on the aspects of aerosol within the Earth System approach and addressing weather, climate, health and agricultural, hydrological and ocean research.
Interface with external users and partners
● Communicate the availability of GAW observations to user communities, including ecosystem effects, health community, climate and atmospheric modelling communities;
● Outreach to other scientific and non-scientific communities regarding the state of science related to aerosol, including the production of the relevant Bulletins, as well as proper understanding and use of measurement data;
● Actively entrain stakeholders, policymaker groups, scientific implementation partners and other interested parties to encourage their support and engagement.