ALBERT

Description / Table of Contents: A New Outlook and New Resources / pp. 1-7 --- Ocean Water and Its Wonderful Potential / pp. 9-30 --- OTEC Is Not a Dream / pp. 31-44 --- Sea-Water Rears Fish / pp. 45-81 --- Learning from the Past / pp. 83-90 --- Earth-Friendly Technology / pp. 91-94

Description / Table of Contents: The Microbial Turnover of Carbon in the Deep-Sea Environment / H. W. Jannasch / pp. 1-11 --- The Role of the Anthropogenic Nutrient Input in the Carbon Fixation of the Coastal Ocean Yellow Sea: A Preliminary Study / G. H. Hong, S. H. Kim, C. S. Chung and S. J. Pae / pp. 13-22 --- The Role of the Pacific Ocean as a Regulator of Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Concentrations / C.-T. A. Chen / pp. 23-34 --- CO2 Hydrate Formation and Inversion of Density between Liquid CO2 and H2O in Deep Sea: Experimental Study Using Submersible "Shinkai 6500" / M. Honda, J. Hashimoto, J. Naka and H. Hotta / pp. 35-43 --- Physical Data of CO2 Hydrate / T. Uchida, T. Hondoh, S. Mae and J. Kawabata / pp. 45-61 --- Discussion on the Direct Ocean Disposal of CO2 / N. Handa, H. Ishitani, H. Sakai, M. Takahashi and T. Ohsumi / pp. 63-82 --- The Second International Workshop on Interaction between CO2 and Ocean 1-2 June, 1993 / Tsukuba Center for Institutes, Tsukuba, Japan --- Disposal Options in View of Geochemical Cycle of Carbon / T. Ohsumi / pp. 83-88 --- Developing the Concept of Ocean Disposal Of CO2 within the Framework of an International Agreement / W. G. Ormerod, I. C. Webster, H. Audus and P. W. F. Riemer / pp. 89-101 --- Fate and Effects of Disposed CO2 for Scenarios in the North Pacific Ocean / C. S. Wong and R. Matear / pp. 103-122 --- Disposal Options in View of Ocean Circulation / P. M. Haugan and H. Drange / pp. 123-141 --- The Capacity of the Deep Oceans to Absorb Carbon Dioxide / K. H. Cole, G. R. Stegen and D. Spencer / pp. 143-152 --- Confined Release of CO2 into Shallow Seawater / E. E. Adams, D. Golomb, X. Y. Zhang and H. J. Herzog / pp. 153-164 --- Physical Behavior of Liquid CO2 in the Ocean / Y. Kobayashi / pp. 165-181 --- Technical View on CO2 Transportation onto the Deep Ocean Floor and Dispersion at Intermediate Depths / N. Nakashiki, T. Ohsumi and N. Katano / pp. 183-193 --- Thermodynamics of Multi-Phase Equilibria in the CO2-Seawater System / M. W. Wadsley / pp. 195-216 --- Formation and Stability of CO2 Hydrate / Y. Shindo, Y. Fujioka, Y. Yanagisawa, T. Hakuta and H. Komiyama / pp. 217-231 --- Dissolution Test of a CO2 Droplet through Clathrate Film at High Pressure / I. Aya / pp. 233-238 --- Laboratory Experiments of CO2 Injection into the Ocean / S. M. Masutani, C. M. Kinoshita, G. C. Nihous, H. Teng, L. A. Vega and S. K. Sharma / pp. 239-252 --- Current Status of Dee -Sea Biology in Relation to the CO2 Disposal / Y. Shirayama / pp. 253-264 --- Summary of Discussion on the Direct Ocean Disposal of CO2 / N. Handa, K. Yamada, H. Sakai, M. Takahashi and T. Ohsumi / pp. 265-266

Description / Table of Contents: MARINE CARBON CYCLE --- Global Scale --- Characterization of Ocean Productivity Using a New Physical-Biological Coupled Ocean Model / K. Nakata, T. Doi, K. Taguchi and S. Aoki / Global Environmental Change in the Ocean and on Land, / pp. 1-44 --- Natural Radiocarbon Distribution in the Deep Ocean / K. Matsumoto and R. M. Key / Global Environmental Change in the Ocean and on Land, / pp. 45-58 --- Equatorial Region --- Variability of Surface Layer CO2 Parameters in the Western and Central Equatorial Pacific / M. Ishii, S. Saito, T. Tokieda, T. Kawano, K. Matsumoto and H. Y. Inoue / Global Environmental Change in the Ocean and on Land, / pp. 59-94 --- Settling Particles Flux in Response to El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) in the Equatorial Pacific / H. Kawahata and L. P. Gupta / Global Environmental Change in the Ocean and on Land, / pp. 95-108 --- Particulate Amino Acids and Biogeochemical Processes in the Equatorial Pacific Ocean during the 1999-2001 La Niña Event / L. P. Gupta and H. Kawahata / Global Environmental Change in the Ocean and on Land, / pp. 109-120 --- Floral Response of Coccolithophores to Progressive Oligotrophication in the South Equatorial Current, Pacific Ocean / K. Hagino and H. Okada / Global Environmental Change in the Ocean and on Land, / pp. 121-132 --- Coccolith Carbonate Fluxes in the Northwest Pacific Ocean / Y. Tanaka / Global Environmental Change in the Ocean and on Land, / pp. 133-146 --- Western Pacfic --- Artificial Radionuclides in the Western North Pacific: A Review / G. H. Hong, M. Baskaran and P. P. Povinec / Global Environmental Change in the Ocean and on Land, / pp. 147-172 --- Material Transport Processes on the Continental Margin in the East China Sea / M. Yamada / Global Environmental Change in the Ocean and on Land, / pp. 173-187 --- Cadmium Distribution in the Western Pacific / K. Abe / Global Environmental Change in the Ocean and on Land, / pp. 189-203 --- Ocean Environments in Response to Climatic Change --- Climate Reconstructions from Annually Banded Corals / T. Felis and J. Pätzold / Global Environmental Change in the Ocean and on Land, / pp. 205-227 --- Reef Water CO2 System and Carbon Production of Coral Reefs: Topographic Control of System-Level Performance / A. Suzuki and H. Kawahata / Global Environmental Change in the Ocean and on Land, / pp. 229-248 --- Chemistry of Benthic Foraminiferal Shells for Recording Ocean Environments: Cd/Ca, d13C and Mg/Ca / K. Tachikawa and H. Elderfield / Global Environmental Change in the Ocean and on Land, / pp. 249-263 --- Have the Tropical Pacific Ocean-Atmosphere Interactions Behaved as a Driver of Centennial- to Orbital-Scale Climate Changes? / M. Yamamoto / Global Environmental Change in the Ocean and on Land, / pp. 265-278 --- Long Term Variations of Uranium Isotopes and Radiocarbon in the Surface Seawater Recorded in Corals / Y. Yokoyama and T. M. Esat / Global Environmental Change in the Ocean and on Land, / pp. 279-309 --- TERRESTRIAL CARBON CYCLE --- A Multi-Scale Analysis of a National Terrestrial Carbon Budget and the Effects of Land-Use Change / C. M. Trotter, K. R. Tate, S. Saggar, N. A. Scott and M. A. Sutherland / Global Environmental Change in the Ocean and on Land, / pp. 311-341 --- Global Mapping of Terrestrial Primary Productivity and Light-Use Efficiency with a Process-Based Model / A. Ito and T. Oikawa / Global Environmental Change in the Ocean and on Land, / pp. 343-358 --- Carbon and Nitrogen Accumulation in a Savanna Landscape: Field and Modeling Perspectives / S. Archer, T. W. Boutton and C. R. McMurtry / Global Environmental Change in the Ocean and on Land, / pp. 359-373 --- Estimating Dynamics of CO2 Flux in Agro-Ecosystems based on Synergy of Remote Sensing and Process Modeling-A Methodological Study / Y. Inoue and A. Olioso / Global Environmental Change in the Ocean and on Land, / pp. 375-390 --- Changes in Productivity of East and South Asian Countries in the 21st Century: Regional Trends According to Climate Change / K. Okamoto, M. Yokozawa and H. Kawashima / Global Environmental Change in the Ocean and on Land, / pp. 391-399 --- A Preliminary Study on the Carbon Dynamics of China's Forest Ecosystems in the Past 20 Years / P. Gong, J. Chen and M. Xu / Global Environmental Change in the Ocean and on Land, / pp. 401-410 --- Retrieval of Forest Fire History in Far East Asia by Remote Sensing and Its Analysis with Biomass Burning Simulation and Climate Anomalies / J. Kuçera and Y. Yasuoka / Global Environmental Change in the Ocean and on Land, / pp. 411-424 --- Potential of Woody Carbon Stock Estimation Using High Spatial Resolution Imagery: A Case Study of Spruce Stands / Y. Awaya, S. Tsuyuki, E. Kodani and G. Takao / Global Environmental Change in the Ocean and on Land, / pp. 425-440 --- Multi-Temporal MODIS Data Product for Carbon Cycles Research / Z. Dafang, L. Ronggao and S. Runhe / Global Environmental Change in the Ocean and on Land, / pp. 441-451 --- Photosynthetic Characteristics of Mixed Deciduous-Broadleaf Forests from Leaf to Stand / T. Koike, S. Kitaoka, T. Ichie, T. T. Lei and M. Kitao / Global Environmental Change in the Ocean and on Land, / pp. 453-472 --- Effect of Free-Air CO2 Enrichment on Structures of Weed Communities and CO2 Exchange at the Flood-Water Surface in a Rice Paddy Field / H. Koizumi, T. Kibe, T. Nakadai, Y. Yazaki, M. Adachi, M. Inatomi, M. Kondo and T. Ohtsuka / Global Environmental Change in the Ocean and on Land, / pp. 473-485

Description / Table of Contents: Chapter 1. Physical and Geological Oceanography --- Hydrography in the RSA during the RT/V Umitaka-Maru Cruises / J. Yoshida, M. Matsuyama, T. Senjyu, T. Ishimaru, T. Morinaga, H. Arakawa, A. Kamatani, M. Maeda, A. Otsuki, S. Hashimoto, I. Kasuga, Y. Koike, Y. Mine, Y. Kurita, A. Kitazawa, A. Noda, T. Hayashi, T. Miyazaki, and K. Takahashi / pp. 1-22 --- Vertical structure of a current and density front in the Strait of Hormuz / M. Matsuyama, Y. Kitade, T. Senjyu, Y. Koike, and T. Ishimaru / pp. 23-34 --- High salinity lens from the Strait of Hormuz / T. Senjyu, T. Ishimaru, M. Matsuyama, and Y. Koike / pp. 35-48 --- Distribution of Turbidity in the ROPME Sea Area / Y. Arakawa, T. Hirawake, and T. Morinaga / pp. 49-63 --- Mineralogy, genesis and sources of surficial sediments in the ROPME Sea Area / A. N. Al-Ghadban, A. M. Al-Dousari, A. Al-Kadi, M. Behbehani, and P. Caceres / pp. 65-88 --- Chapter 2. Chemical Oceanography --- Concentrations of bromide and chloride ions and their relationships with salinity in the central region of the ROPME Sea Area / A. Otsuki, K. Nagaoka, S. Hashimoto, R. Tsujimoto, T. Senjyu, and Y. Koike / pp. 89-98 --- Distribution of nutrient, nitrous oxide and chlorophyll a of RSA: Extremely high ratios of nitrite to nitrate in whole water column / S. Hashimoto, R. Tsujimoto, M. Maeda, T. Ishimaru, J. Yoshida, Y. Takasu, Y. Koike, Y. Mine, A. Kamatani, and A. Otsuki / pp. 99-124 --- Levels of mercury in the marine environment of the ROPME area / N. B. Al-Majed and W. A. Rajab / pp. 125-147 --- Metal concentrations in sediment samples collected during Umitaka-Maru Cruises in 1993-1994 / I. Alam, A. A. Al-Arfaj, and M. Sadiq / pp. 149-159 --- Trace metals in the finest fraction of surface sediments from the inner part of ROPME Sea Area / M. Maeda, H. Akitake, I. Kamiya, F. Shibata, and A. Kamatani / pp. 161-180 --- Chapter 3. Biological Oceanography --- Primary production in the ROPME Sea Area / T. Hirawake, K. Tobita, T. Ishimaru, H. Satoh, and T. Morinaga / pp. 181-191 --- Post-spill spatial distribution of zooplankton in the ROPME Sea Area. / F. Al-Yamani, K. Al-Rifaie, H. Al-Mutairi, and W. Ismail / pp. 193-202 --- Aspects of reproduction in the pearl oyster, Pinctada radiata (Leach). / S. A. A. Khamdan / pp. 203-214 --- Chapter 4. Marine pollution --- Distribution of n-alkanes and heterocyclic sulfur compounds in the central region of the ROPME Sea Area (Persian Gulf) / R. Tsujimoto, S. Hashimoto, and A. Otsuki / pp. 215-230 --- Distribution of organotin compounds in fish and the ratio of phenyl-tin to total organic-tin in the ROPME Sea Area / M. Watanabe, S. Hashimoto, K. Fujita, and A. Otsuki / pp. 231-244 --- Toxicity of dibenzothiophene and its distribution in the eastern coast of Japan and northwestern coast of the ROPME Sea Area / J. Koyama, and R. Kuroshima / pp. 245-256 --- Levels of trace metals and hydrocarbons in fish from the ROPME Sea Area / N. B. Al-Majed, F. Al-Safar, W. A. Rajab, M. S. Farhan, and E. Al-Ruqaab / pp. 257-279 --- Appendix: Technical reports --- Study of phytoplankton in ROPME Sea Area / M. Husain, and S. Ibrahim / pp. 281-301 --- Distribution of copepoda in the ROPME Sea Area 1994 / M. Al-Khabbaz, and A. M. Fahmi / pp. 303-318

Description / Table of Contents: Session 1. Global Warming Prediction—Current Status and Issues --- Global Warming Projection Studies at the Meteorological Research Institute/JMA / T. Tokioka and A. Noda / pp. 1-14 --- Projections of Future Climate Change in the 21st Century Simulated by the CCSR/NIES CGCM under the IPCC SRES Scenarios / T. Nozawa, S. Emori, A. Numaguti, Y. Tsushima, T. Takemura, T. Nakajima, A. Abe-Ouchi and M. Kimoto / pp. 15-28 --- Session 2. Modeling of the Atmosphere and Oceans --- Toward a Unified Highly Resolved Regional Climate Modeling System / Y. Wang and B. Wang / pp. 29-48 --- Studies of Climate Variability Using General Circulation Models / M. Kimoto / pp. 49-62 --- Session 3. Modeling of Chemistry of the Atmosphere --- Tropospheric Ozone and Climate: Past, Present and Future / G. P. Brasseur, J.-F. Müller, X-X. Tie and L. Horowitz / pp. 63-76 --- Effects of Man-Made Air Pollution on the Climate / T. Nakajima, A. Higurashi, K. Kawamoto and T. Takemura / pp. 77-88 --- Tropospheric Chemical Transport Modeling over East Asia / I. Uno / pp. 89-100 --- Session 4. Modeling of Land Hydrology Including Snow and Ice --- Effects of Soil Moisture of the Asian Continent upon the Baiu Front / F. Kimura and T. Yoshikane / pp. 101-110 --- Macroscale Hydrology: Challenges and Opportunities / D. P. Lettenmaier / pp. 111-136 --- Linking Ground Hydrology to Ecosystems and Carbon Cycle in a Climate Model / R. E. Dickinson / pp. 137-144 --- Session 5. Modeling of Ecosystem and Its Global Change --- Carbon Storage in the U.S. Caused by Land Use Change / S. W. Pacala, G. C. Hurtt, P. R. Moorcroft and J. P. Caspersen / pp. 145-172 --- A Multi-layered Integrated Numerical Model of Surface Physics—Growing Plants Interaction, MINoSGI / T. Hara, T. Watanabe, M. Yokozawa, S. Emori, K. Takata and A. Sumida / pp. 173-186 --- Session 6. Carbon Cycle Modeling --- Modeling Carbon-Climate Interactions / I. Fung / pp. 187-194 --- Development of Coupled Ocean Physical-Biogeochemical-Ecosystem Model / Y. Yamanaka / pp. 195-206 --- Modeling Carbon Dynamics of Terrestrial Ecosystems in Monsoon Asia / T. Oikawa and A. Ito / pp. 207-220 --- Session 7. Modeling of Paleoenvironmental Change Including Ice Sheet Modeling --- Ice in the Climate System: Paleoclimatological Perspectives / W. R. Peltier and L. P. Solheim / pp. 221-242 --- Using Model Hierarchies to Better Understand Past Climate Chang / M. Kageyama / pp. 243-252 --- Abrupt Climate Change and Thermohaline Circulation / S. Manabe / pp. 253-254 --- Session 8. Modeling of Land Use/Cover Change due to Human Activities --- Backward Land-Cover Change Projections for the Sudano-Sahelian Countries of Africa with a Dynamic Simulation Model of Land-Use Change (SALU) / N. Stephenne and E. F. Lambin / pp. 255-270 --- Integrating Biophysical and Socioeconomic Factors in Modeling Impacts of Global Environmental Change / G. Fischer / pp. 271-292 --- Integration of Observational Data and Behavioral Models for Spatio-Temporal Interpolation—Application to Reconstructing Long-Term Land Use and Land Cover Changes / R. Shibasaki and S. Huang / pp. 293-310 --- Session 9. Integrated Modeling—Current Status --- Earth System Modeling—An Integrated Assessment Tool for Environmental Studies / R. A. Pielke, Sr. / pp. 311-338 --- Integrated Assessment Model of Climate Change: The AIM Approach / Y. Matsuoka, T. Morita and M. Kainuma / pp. 339-362 --- Session 10. Discussion on Strategy toward Modeling of the Integrated System / A. Sumi and T. Morita / pp. 363-372 --- Poster Session --- Effect of Cloud Condensation Nuclei on the Optical Properties of a Layer Cloud: Numerical Simulation with a Cloud-Microphysical Model / N. Kuba, H. Iwabuchi, K. Maruyama, T. Hayasaka and T. Takeda / pp. 373-374 --- Intercontinental Transport and Chemical Transformation of Ozone and Its Precursors from East Asia / O. Wild and H. Akimoto / pp. 375-382 --- Development of CCSR/NIES Nudging CTM and Ozone Simulation / H. Akiyoshi, M. Takigawa, T. Nagashima, J. Kurokawa, S. Sugata, M. Takahashi and H. Nakane / pp. 383-390 --- Modeling Surface Hydrology for Global Water Cycle Simulations / T. Oki / pp. 391-404 --- A New Frozen Soil Parameterization in Land Surface Scheme / X. Li and T. Koike / pp. 405-414 --- Individual-Based Model of a Forest with Spatial Structure and Gene Flow / A. Takenaka / pp. 415-420 --- Global Potential of Carbon Sinks under the Kyoto Protocol / Y. Yamagata and G. A. Alexandrov / pp. 421-426 --- Effect of Orography on Land and Ocean Surface Temperature / A. Kitoh / pp. 427-432 --- Regional Warming Related with Land Use Change during Past 135 Years in Japan / T. Ichinose / pp. 433-440 --- Development of Land Use Model for IPCC New Emission Scenarios (SRES) / T. Masui, Y. Matsuoka, T. Morita, M. Kainuma and K. Takahashi / pp. 441-448 --- Numerical Simulation Study Using a Climate Model Includinga Sophisticated Land Surface Model / K. Mabuchi, Y. Sato and H. Kida / pp. 449-456

Description / Table of Contents: Introduction / Tomotoshi Okaichi / pp. 3-5 --- Seto Inland Sea—Historical Background / Tetsuo Yanagi and Tomotoshi Okaichi / pp. 9-14 --- Biological Productivity of the Lower Trophic Levels of the Seto Inland Sea / Hiroaki Hashimoto, Toshiya Hashimoto, Osamu Matsuda, Kuninao Tada, Kyoichi Tamai, Shin-ichi Uye and Tamiji Yamamoto / pp. 17-58 --- Fisheries Production / Tatsuki Nagai and Yasuki Ogawa / pp. 61-94 --- The Preservation and Creation of Fisheries Grounds / Tetsuo Yanagi / pp. 97-119 --- Strategies for Reduction of Nutrient Loads from the Land / Masahiko Sekine and Masao Ukita / pp. 123-158 --- The Relationship between the Fishery Industry and Environmental Evaluation of the Seto Inland Sea / Hidenori Niizawa, Ken'ichi Nakagami and Kazuhisa Oba / pp. 161-185 --- Legal System and Coastal Management / Mitsuru Nakayama / pp. 189-214 --- Synthesis and Proposal / Tetsuo Yanagi and Tomotoshi Okaichi / pp. 217-219 --- Comparison of the Seto Inland Sea with Other Enclosed Seas from Around the World / Hidetaka Takeoka / pp. 223-247 --- Red Tides in the Seto Inland Sea / Tomotoshi Okaichi / pp. 251-304 --- Law Concerning Special Measures for Conservation of the Environment of the Seto Inland Sea / pp. 307-317 --- International EMECS Center International Center for the Environmental Manage ment of Enclosed Coastal Sea / pp. 321-325

Description / Table of Contents: Part I: Outline of the physical processes within mangrove systems --- Chapter 1: Introduction --- Chapter 2: Present state of mangrove studies from a physical viewpoint --- Chapter 3: Physical factors that shape mangrove environments --- Chapter 4: Hydrodynamics and physics that support the mangrove environment --- Chapter 5: Feedback processes that maintain the mangrove environment --- Chapter 6: Research technology --- Chapter 7: Modeling of mangrove systems --- Chapter 8: Future studies in the context of the preservation and utilization of mangroves

Description / Table of Contents: IOP Publishing presents Volume 6 of the open-access IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science (EES) as the online abstract book for the IARU International Scientific Congress on Climate Change: Global Risks, Challenges and Decisions (10–12 March, Copenhagen, Denmark). This abstracts-only volume of EES is quite different to standard IOP Conference Series proceedings volumes which contain full, peer-reviewed proceedings papers. This unique volume of more than 1400 abstracts, divided into 58 different sessions, contains all the oral and poster presentations from the Congress. In view of the importance of the Climate Change Congress as a scientific basis for the COP15 conference, we are delighted to offer this collection as a permanent record of current research devoted to climate change. We hope this compilation will contribute to future world-wide dialogue on climate change in the ongoing search to address the scientific, political, social and economic challenges ahead.

Description / Table of Contents: The Beyond Kyoto conference in Aarhus March 2009 was organised in collaboration with other knowledge institutions, businesses and authorities. It brought together leading scientists, policy-makers, authorities, intergovernmental organisations, NGO's, business stakeholders and business organisations. The conference was a joint interdisciplinary project involving many academic areas and disciplines. These conference proceedings are organised in central and recurring themes that cut across many debates on climate change, the climatic challenges as well as the solutions. In the front there is a short presentation of the conference concept. Part I of the proceedings focuses on issues related to the society – covering climate policy, law, market based instruments, financial structure, behaviour and consumption, public participation, media communication and response from indigenous peoples etc. Part II of the proceedings concerns the scientific knowledge base on climate related issues – covering climate change processes per se, the potential impacts of projected climate change on biodiversity and adaptation possibilities, the interplay between climate, agriculture and biodiversity, emissions, agricultural systems, increasing pressure on the functioning of agriculture and natural areas, vulnerability to extreme weather events and risks in respect to sea-level rise etc...

Description / Table of Contents: This volume of IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science presents a selection of papers that were given at the WMO/GEO Expert Meeting on an International Sand and Dust Storm Warning System hosted by the Barcelona Supercomputing Center – Centro Nacional de Supercomputación in Barcelona (Spain) on 7-9 November 2007 (http://www.bsc.es/wmo). A sand and dust storm (SDS) is a meteorological phenomenon common in arid and semi-arid regions and arises when a gust front passes or when the wind force exceeds the threshold value where loose sand and dust are removed from the dry surface. After aeolian uptake, SDS reduce visibility to a few meters in and near source regions, and dust plumes are transported over distances as long as thousands of kilometres. Aeolian dust is unique among aerosol phenomena: (1) with the possible exception of sea-salt aerosol, it is globally the most abundant of all aerosol species, (2) it appears as the dominating component of atmospheric aerosol over large areas of the Earth, (3) it represents a serious hazard for life, health, property, environment and economy (occasionally reaching the grade of disaster or catastrophic event) and (4) its influence, impacts, complex interactions and feedbacks within the Earth System span a wide range of spatial and temporal scales. From a political and societal point of view, the concern for SDS and the need for international cooperation were reflected after a survey conducted in 2005 by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in which more than forty WMO Member countries expressed their interest for creating or improving capacities for SDS warning advisory and assessment. In this context, recent major advances in research – including, for example, the development and implementation of advanced observing systems, the theoretical understanding of the mechanisms responsible for sand and dust storm generation and the development of global and regional dust models – represent the basis for developing applications focusing on societal benefit and risk reduction. However, at present there are interdisciplinary research challenges to overwhelm current uncertainties in order to reach full potential. Furthermore, the community of practice for SDS observations, forecasts and analyses is mainly scientifically based and rather disconnected from potential users. This requires the development of interfaces with operational communities at international and national levels, strongly focusing on the needs of people and factors at risk ... The general objective of the WMO/GEO Expert Meeting on an International Sand and Dust Storm Warning System was to discuss and recommend actions needed to develop a global routine SDS-WAS based on integrating numerical SDS prediction and observing systems, and on establishing effective cooperation between data producers and user communities in order to provide SDS-WAS products capable of contributing to the reduction of risks from SDS. The specific objectives were: to identify, present and suggest future real-time observations for forecast verification and dust surveillance: satellite, ground-based remote sensing (passive and active) and in-situ monitoring; to present ongoing forecasting activities; to discuss and identify user needs: health, air quality, air transport operations, ocean, and others; to identify and discuss dust research issues relevant for operational forecast applications; to present the concept of SDS-WAS and Regional Centers...