GAW Report No. 205 - IGAC Project

CHAPTER 7 – OVERVIEW OF INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH ACTIVITIES7.11 GAW URBAN RESEARCH METEOROLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT (GURME) PROJECTThe main focus of the World Meteorological Organization’s GURME project, initiated in 1998,is the important cross-cutting area of urban air quality. GURME addresses the end-to-end aspectsof air quality, linking the observational capabilities of GAW with the needs of chemical weatherprediction, with the goal of providing decision makers and the general public with enhanced airquality services of appropriate quality. Priority activities include the improvement of observingsystems and their integration with urban-scale models and capacity building/training initiatives.Through a training team materials for a basic air quality modelling and forecasting course weredeveloped. These have been modified as per the requirements of each specific training event.GURME provides an international platform for cross-cutting urban air pollution activities,collaborating with other WMO Programmes, international organizations, National Meteorologicaland Hydrological Services (NMHSs), research institutes, academia and environmental agencies.Participation in MEGAPOLI and several European COST actions has been mutually beneficial.GURME pilot projects have been established for several megacities, below are short descriptions.GURME activities are shown in Figure 19, with the so-called “GURME Figure” in the middle.GURME activities are guided by the WMO/GAW Scientific Advisory Group (SAG) forGURME, chaired by Prof. Gregory Carmichael.Observational NeedsChemicalMeteorologicalAssimilationModelling NeedsWeather predictionChemical weather and airquality predictionDemonstrationCoordinationCapacity BuildingWorkshopsTrainingEducationAir Quality & RelatedProductsImproved ForecastsGuidelinesPilot ProjectsUSERSHealthAgricultureEnvironmentalPublicEmergency ResponseDisseminationFigure 19 - Main elements and goals of GURME for the strategic planning period 2008-2015Latin American Cities projectThe Latin American Cities project was originally focused on Mexico City, Santiago and SaoPaulo concentrating on capacity development. The project grew out of the GURME Experts Meetingheld in Cuernavaca, Mexico in October 2002, which was attended by 25 invited participants from 11countries. The first Workshop on Air Quality Forecasting in Latin American Cities was held in275