INTERNATIONAL AIRWAYS VOLCANO WATCH OPERATIONS GROUP (IAVWOPSG)

Transcription

1 International Civil Aviation Organization 14/1/14 WORKING PAPER INTERNATIONAL AIRWAYS VOLCANO WATCH OPERATIONS GROUP (IAVWOPSG) EIGHTH MEETING Melbourne, Australia, 17 to 20 February 2014 Agenda Item 5: Operation of the IAVW (Deliverables 01, 03, 04 and 05) 5.1: Implementation of the IAVW, including the IAVW management reports (Deliverable 01) VAAC BUENOS AIRES MANAGEMENT REPORT (Presented by Argentina) SUMMARY Pursuant to Conclusion 1/2 of the IAVWOPSG/1 Meeting, VAAC Provider States were invited to provide a concise IAVW management report to be presented at every IAVWOPSG meeting covering the period elapsed since the previous meeting and addressing the main features of the IAVW operations, highlighting any recent developments and difficulties and future planned developments. The report prepared by Argentina is attached for the group s review and consideration. Action by the IAVWOPSG is in paragraph INTRODUCTION 1.1 During the period of November 2012 to November 2013 volcanic ash advisory centre (VAAC) Buenos Aires issued 88 volcanic ash advisories (VAAs) and volcanic ash advisories in graphical format (VAGs). 2. VAAC BUENOS AIRES GENERAL OPERATIONS 2.1 VAAC Buenos Aires is operated by the Servicio Meteorològico Nacional (SMN) of Argentina. It is located at the SMN`s headquarters (Weather Forecasting Department) in downtown Buenos Aires. 2.2 The remote sensing meteorological watch (RSMW) operator on duty makes a continuous checks on VA SIGMET messages, special air-reports (AIREPs), volcanic observatory reports, aerodrome (7 pages) IAVWOPSG.8.WP en.docx

2 - 2 - routine meteorological reports (in meteorological code form) (METARs), OVDAS webcam volcano images, etc. The operator on duty also performs a continuous surveillance on the satellite imagery from geostationary operational environmental satellite (GOES) E (G-13; 1, 2, 4 and 6 bands); METEOSAT 9; NOAA 15/16/17 (processed by the SMN s HRPT station) and AQUA and TERRA (processed by the SMN S HRPT and by the CONAE space-agency of Argentina) in order to detect/follow up on volcanic eruptions. The satellite imagery detection/follow up is shared with the SMN s HRPT station. 2.3 If a volcanic ash cloud is observed on satellite images, or informed by AIREPs, Special AIREPs, SIGMET messages and/or by vulcanological institutions, the RSMW operator on duty runs (at six-hour intervals or when necessary) the HYbrid Single Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) volcanic ash dispersion model to forecast the motion and dispersion of the volcanic ash cloud. The corresponding VAA message is issued and immediately sent to the Aeronautical Authority s (Administracíón Nacional de Aviación Civil ANAC) communication facilities for its transmission via aeronautical fixed telecommunication network (AFTN) and ATS message handling system (AMHS) to the meteorological watch offices (MWOs) in charge of producing the VA SIGMET reports; to area control centres (ACCs), to air traffic services (ATSs), and to the NOTAM offices (NOFs) to produce the ASHTAM reports; all located in the VAAC Buenos Aires area or responsibility. The VAA message is also transmitted to the associated VAACs and all others concerned. (It is worth mentioning that the SMN does not have a communication system of its own for transmission purposes). 2.4 The cycle is discontinued when ash clouds are no longer detected on satellite imagery, when AIREPs, special AIREPs or SIGMET messages stop reporting volcanic ash clouds, and/or when no new volcanic eruptions are reported by the vulcanological centers. 3. ISSUANCE OF VAAS/VAGS 3.1 During the period November 2012 to November 2013, VAAC Buenos Aires issued 88 VAAs/volcanic ash advisories in graphical format (VAGs) for 8 volcanoes. 3.2 Copahue volcano ranked at the top with a total of 64 VAAs/VAGs. March, May and November 2013 were the months with the most extensive volcanic activity along the Andes mountain range with 3 volcanoes in eruption, while on the other hand, some months along the period showed no volcanic activity at all. January 2013 was the month with the highest issuance of volcanic advisories: 24 VAAs/VAGs. YEAR/MONTH VOLCANOS N D E F M A M J J A S O N TOTAL UBINAS SABANCAYA LLAIMA LASCAR CORDÓN CAULLE COPAHUE ANTUCO LLAIMA TOTAL

3 TESTS 4.1 In order to comply with the CAR/SAM Regional Planning and Implementation Group (GREPECAS) regulations, two annual SIGMET WV tests were run during the period November 2012 to November 2013, the first on December 2012 and the second on 7 to 8 December As usual, both followed the procedures stated by the Handbook on the International Airways Volcano Watch (IAVW) Operational Procedures and Contact List (Doc 9766). 5. SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE ASH PROPAGATION EXERCISE (SHAPE) 5.1 The eruption of the Chilean volcanic complex Puyehue-Cordón del Caulle in June and July 2011 resulted in an ash cloud that simultaneously affected the four Southern Hemisphere VAACs (VAAC Buenos Aires, VAAC Darwin, VAAC Toulouse and VAAC Wellington). In addition to the difficulties associated with forecasting the event was the added complexity of coordinating VAAs across the VAAC boundaries. 5.2 In the post assessment of the event, it was recognized that a VAAC coordination system for information sharing needed to be developed and operationally tested between the four VAACs. The Southern Hemisphere Ash Propagation Exercise (SHAPE) was enforced as a tool to test communications capabilities among the mentioned VAACs. VAACs Buenos Aires and Toulouse are planning to run the exercise at the beginning of RELATION BETWEEN THE VAAC BUENOS AIRES AND VULCANOLOGICAL/METEOROLOGICAL AGENCIES 6.1 VAAC Buenos Aires keeps in continuous contact with the SEGEMAR (Secretarìa de Minerìa y Geologìa de Argentina) and the SERNAGEOMIN (Servicio Nacional de Geología y Minería de Chile). Also, the Chilean Observatorio Vulcanológico de los Andes del Sur (OVDAS) provides webcam images of the erupting volcanos in its surveillance region. 7. INTERNATIONAL VOLCANO DATABASE FOR VAACS 7.1 VAAC Buenos Aires has implemented the usage of the new International Volcano Database ID numbers for VAACs as of 1 October 2013 (related to IAVWOPSG Conclusion 7/30). 7.2 However, it is necessary to point out that the National Geographic Institute (IGN) of Argentina has found discrepancies in the data of 52 volcanos belonging to the Argentine Republic. In this regard, the NWS will request the Global Volcanism Program of the Smithsonian Institution to make the corresponding modifications, and will proceed via diplomatic channels in the specific cases that such a method is required.

4 RELATION BETWEEN THE VAAC BUENOS AIRES AND NATIONAL/PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS AND USERS INVOLVED 8.1 VAAC Buenos Aires keeps continuous fluid contact in Argentina with the Defense, Environmental and Tourism Ministries, the Aeronautical Authority (ANAC), the National Regulatory Agency for Airports (ORSNA), Airports Management Co. (Aeropuertos Argentina 2000); Argentine, Brazilian and Chilean airline s operators and the communication media, among others concerned. 9. VAAC BUENOS AIRES CAPACITIES 9.1 Numerical models HYSPLIT model 9.2 Since 1998, the VAAC Buenos Aires runs on operational basis the HYbrid Single Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) volcanic ash dispersion model via the web page interface provided by the Air Resources Laboratory (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)) at It is based on a numerical meteorological model with renewed model outputs four times per day. 9.3 As of March 2009, a new version of the HYSPLIT volcanic ash dispersion model is run autonomously at the SMN. It is better adapted to the characteristics of the region by using a local version of the ETA meteorological numerical model used at the SMN since The ETA SMN model has also allowed enhancing the grid resolution and provides a better representation of the topography as well. The new HYSPLIT version provides the option of being run using the GFS (Global Forecast System, NCEP) numerical model. FALL 3D model 9.4 The capacity of VAAC Buenos Aires was also improved with the installation of the FALL 3D model by Dr. Arnau Folch, (Barcelona Supercomputing Center) in coordinaton with local meteorologists. The FALL 3D is an Eulerian dispersion and concentration model for volcanic ash clouds that can be run on global models (GFS) or local mesoscale models (WRF or ETA). The model allows the study of ash concentration in the atmosphere, of ground load and deposition thickness. 9.5 At the present time, the FALL 3D model is run both on the NMS s ETA and WRF. This model is run at the NMS facilities twice a day, seven days a week. This product is run on experimental basis (not validated). 9.6 As said, the dispersion model is also run on the WRF-ARW (Weather Research and Forecasting - Advanced Research) meteorological model which provides the initial and boundary conditions. 9.7 The experimental results of the FALL 3D run on the WRF local mesoscale model can be found at the Asociación Geológica Argentina site (Costa et al., 2006, Folch et al. 2008, Folch et al. 2011) The research continues and it is conducted in the frame of a joint project between the Servicio de Hidrografía Naval (SHN) and the Servicio Meteorológico Nacional (SMN) of Argentina

5 - 5 - known as Aplicaciones de modelos numéricos de última generación, en el ámbito del Servicio Meteorológico Nacional para el pronóstico del tiempo, estudios de vulnerabilidad del medio ambiente e impacto socioeconómico PIDDEF (PROGRAMA DE INVESTIGACIÓN Y DESARROLLO PARA LA DEFENSA) 41/10. Also, in collaboration with the Grupo de Recursos Geológicos y geotérmicos del Instituto de Energía No Convencional (INENCO y GEONORTE) from the Universidad Nacional de Salta-CONICET, the Comisión Nacional de Actividades Espaciales (CONAE) and the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC). This project is known as CYTED-410-RT392 CENIZAS. 10. PRODUCTS 10.1 The NMS keeps a VAAC Buenos Aires section on its Internet web site at to concentrate all general-related information (operational and informative) of interest to users in both the English and Spanish languages If required, the VAAC Buenos Aires could also make available a public file server/ftp account to satisfy, as much as possible, the aviation industry s needs for VA related information New VAG Headers 10.4 In addition to the five VAA headers (FVAG01 SABM; FVAG02 SABM; FVAG03 SABM; FVAG04 SABM; FVAG05 SABM), the following VAG headers (graphic format) were created: PXFD01 SABM, PXFD02 SABM, PXFD03 SABM, PXFD04 SABM, PXFD05 SABM VAAC Buenos Aires operational telephone number 10.6 VAAC Buenos Aires has included the telephone number (54 11) for direct operational use among VAACs. 11. QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM 11.1 The NWS of Argentina has implemented and certified the quality management system (QMS) International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001:2008 plan for the installation, contrast and calibration of meteorological instruments for meteorological information, for the inspection of meteorological stations; for meteorological observations, MWOs and also the forecasts and meteorological surveillance at Ezeiza-Ministro Pistarini (SAEZ), Córdoba-Pajas blancas (SACO) and Aeroparque Jorge Newbery (SABE) airports It is also planned to implement during the present year an organized QMS for the various BA VAAC s activities, procedures and products. 12. WORKSHOPS 12.1 BA VAAC participated in the 2nd IUGG-WMO workshop on Ash Dispersal Forecast and Civil Aviation (WMO, Geneva, Switzerland, Nov , 2013) with the attendance of two members of the research team from SMN-CONICET-CONAE and the BA VAAC s Operational Chief Presentations were made on the VAAC Buenos Aires Operational strategy during a re-suspension event and the Progresses in modeling re-suspended volcanic ash using FALL3D 7. 0 ;

6 - 6 - also a Poster depicting Volcanic ash detection and mass load quantifications procedures using remote sensing techniques was presented during the workshop by the team.

7 IAVWOPSG/6-CONCLUSION 6/33 - IAVWOGP/7 DECISION 7/ In compliance with IAVWOPSG/6 Conclusion 6/33 and IAVWOPSG/7 Decision 7/1, VAAC Buenos Aires in collaboration with the research community submits the paper Puyehue-Cordón Caulle Volcanic Complex re-suspended volcanic ash event over Argentina for the IAVWOPSG/8 group s review and consideration (IAVWOPSG/8-IP) The joint team mentioned above adapted and implemented several schemes originally developed for the emission of mineral dust on the WRF-ARW/FALL3D modeling system in order to explore its behavior on the transport of volcanic ash clouds and applied to a re-suspended ash episode in October 2011, during the Puyehue-Cordón Caulle event, as a test case. 14. SUGGESTIONS 14.1 It is suggested the publication of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) international airways volcano watch (IAVW) information/handbooks be made in the Spanish language (one of ICAO s official languages) in order to contribute to the Spanish speaking VAAC operators better understanding of the operational procedures/techniques. 15. ACTION BY THE IAVWOPSG 15.1 The IAVWOPSG is invited to: a) note the information contained in this paper; and b) exchange views on the various matters discussed in this paper. END