> Research Highlight: ARL to Train Argentina's National Weather Service on HYSPLIT model
Research Highlight:
ARL to Train Argentina's National Weather Service on HYSPLIT model
Beginning September 29 through October 2, the Air Resources
Laboratory (ARL) will train staff at Argentina's National Weather
Service (NWS) on the HYbrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated
Trajectory (HYSPLIT) transport and dispersion model to help them support
operations at their Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC). The training,
which will take place at the NWS Headquarters in the city of Buenos
Aires, will cover a broad range of HYSPLIT applications, such as
calculation of trajectories, management of meteorological data, and
simulation of transport and dispersion of volcanic ash and other
pollutants. This training will result in the NWS being able to
independently perform operational activities pertaining to the
simulation of the transport and dispersion of pollutants in the
troposphere.
Background: Buenos Aires, Argentina is one of nine
VAACs, created by the International Civil Aviation Organization, tasked
with monitoring volcanic ash plumes and running a dispersion model to
forecast the plume movement in their respective area. Each VAAC is
responsible for providing an advisory whenever a volcanic event occurs
in their area. Currently, Argentina uses ARL's HYSPLIT model via the
ARL web server. However, ARL's web server is intended for research
rather than operations. Therefore, there is a need for Argentina's NWS
to develop their own operational dispersion modeling capability.
Significance: Developing and executing volcanic ash dispersion models
is a critical activity of the VAACs who need to provide accurate
forecasts and warnings to the aviation community keeping aircraft away
from dangerous areas. ARL's training of the HYSPLIT model will allow
the Buenos Aires VAAC to perform volcanic ash modeling operationally in
their local systems. In addition, the HYSPLIT model may be used to
calculate the spatial and temporal evolution of other substances, such
as smoke from forest fires, Patagonian dust, and hazardous material
releases into the atmosphere. In return, NOAA may benefit from
Argentina's research activities with incorporating new improvements into
the model.