The International Workshop on Sand and Dust Storms Monitoring and Forecasting Using Innovative Techniques was held at the Research Institute of Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences (RIMAS)

According to the public relations report of RIMAS, The International online workshop on Sand and Dust Storms Monitoring and Forecasting Using Innovative techniques was held in Tehran by the Iran Meteorological Organization (IRIMO) and RIMAS with the cooperation of the World Meteorological Organization Regional Association (RA II) Joint Expert Team on Environmental Observations and Services (JET- EOS), WMO Sand and Dust Storm Warning Advisory and Assessment System (WMO SDS-WAS), WMO Regional Training Center in Tehran (Tehran-RTC) and WMO Regional Training Center in Ankara as well as the Turkish Meteorological Service (TSMS) at the Innovation Center of the RIMAS on May 8 and 9, 2023.

Among the most important topics discussed by the trainers in this workshop, the following can be mentioned: SDS in the United Nations, evaluation of atmospheric aerosol in West Asia during the last two decades (2003-2022), determining of the physical and chemical properties of aerosols in air surface as well as the atmosphere, investigation of optical properties of aerosols and direct radiation force In the Middle East, Urmia Lake sandstorms Soil loss and transport capacity, identification of dust sources in West Asia, SDS risk assessment and action plan in the West Asia, SDS early warning system over the West Asia, Barcelona Dust Regional Center forecast products (operational model and multi model products), SDS modeling: recent improvements aiming for more accurate dust predictions and user-oriented services.

This virtual international workshop was attended by representatives from the WMO as well as researchers and trainers from Turkey, Serbia, Iraq, Syria, Oman, Greece as well as India.

Professor Abbas Ali Ali Akbari Bidakhti, " faculty member of Tehran University", Dr. Reza Shahbazi, "Director General of the Geological Survey and Mineral Exploration of Iran ", Dr.Mehdi Rahnama, "diector of the RIMAS ", Dr.Saviz Sehat Kashani "Diector of the WMO RTC in Tehran and faculty member of RIMAS" as well as Dr.Sara Karmi, "faculty member of the RIMAS" presented their views, regarding the main topics of the workshop.

It is noteworthy that, on the second day of workshop Mrs. Letizia Rossano "Diector of the Asian and Pacific Centre for the Development of Disaster Information Management (APDIM) of the United Nations" was attended in the workshop and gave her speech in person. Also, she had a meeting with the Diector of the RIMAS and visited the collection of scientific and practical achievements of the RIMAS.