Informal Workshop on Meteorological Modelling in Support of CTBT Verification

Background

The verification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), which bans all kinds of nuclear explosions, relies on an International Monitoring System (IMS) comprising global networks of seismic, infrasound, hydroacoustic and radionuclide monitoring stations. Already more than 20 of the total of 80 planned radionuclide stations deliver daily measurements of the gamma-emitting radionuclides collected on filters to the International Data Centre (IDC) of the Provisional Technical Secretariate in Vienna.

Atmospheric transport calculations and their evaluation with respect to the location of potential sources of anomalous radionuclides are one of the key elements in the radionuclide sector of the verification system. Informal workshops where these issues have been discussed were held so far in Canada (Montreal workshop in October 1996) and in France (Paris workshop in September 1998). As the work progresses towards the final shape of the IDC Operational Manual, establishing the rules for the evaluation of the IMS data in the IDC, another opportunity to discuss the current state of meteorological support to CTBT verification is offered. This informal workshop will focus on meteorological and dispersion modelling with respect to the transport of radionuclides, and source determination methods, in general and as pertinent to the CTBT verification context.

The workshop is organised by the Institute of Meteorology and Physics, University of Agricultural Sciences in Vienna, in co-operation with the expert group leader on meteorology within the CTBTO Preparatory Commission Working Group B and with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Austria.

Topics

• Status of operational tools for the atmospheric transport and dispersion of tracers
• Current research on transport modelling and source determination
• Directions for future development

Experts from research institutions, national weather services, and international organisations who are already involved in the meteorological aspects of CTBT verification or who wish to contribute to them.

Call for papers

Participants are invited to present contributions to the above-mentioned topics. Presentations will be primarily in oral form, though some posters can be accommodated if so desired. The time for each presentation will depend on the number of participants and will be communicated with the second circular that will go to registered participants only. Please send a short abstract in text-only format (no MS-Word documents or any formatting, please!) to the organisers by e-mail, fax or mail (see address below) before 31 October 2000.
 

Preprints / Proceedings

Preprints containing short abstracts will be available at the workshop. Participants who would like to include formulae, tables or figures in their short abstracts are invited to submit up to 2 camera-ready pages by conventional mail. Such contributions must be received at latest on 20 November 2000.

In addition, full proceedings will be produced on CD-ROM. Contributions for the full proceedings can be handed in at the workshop or sent at latest until 31 December 2000. Formatting details will be mailed out with the letter of acceptance.

Schedule

The workshop will commence on Monday, 4 December 2000, 10:00 a.m. The official part will end on Wednesday, 6 December 2000, at noon. Wednesday afternoon and (if necessary) evening will be devoted to working on a draft suggestion for the Operational Manual, to be submitted to WG B. Participation in this part of the meeting is aimed at participants who are directly involved in the WGB and PTS activities.

Registration

There is no conference fee. However, participants must bear their own costs for travel and accommodation. Please fill in the Registration Form (if possible, on-line) and send it as soon as possible but not later than 31 October 2000.

Venue

The workshop will be held at the University of Agricultural Sciences (BOKU) in Vienna, Austria. The BOKU campus is located in Vienna´s 18th and 19th district, close to the forested hills of the Vienna Wood, and can be reached by public transport from downtown Vienna in about 20 minutes, and from the airport in about 60 minutes. The meeting will take place in the Simony-House at the address Peter Jordan Str. 65, A-1180 Wien. Detailed travel information will be sent to registered participants.

Visa: Participants from certain countries may need visa for entry to Austria (see http://www.bmaa.gv.at/botschaften/konsularfragen/foreigne.html.en). Participants requiring visa should contact the nearest Austrian embassy (and perhaps the permanent mission of their home country with CTBTO in Vienna) as soon as possible. If further support is needed (e.g., an invitation letter), please contact the workshop organisers.

Accommodation:

We recommend two hotels near the venue. Of course, participants are free to stay in other hotels of their choice (see http://info.wien.at/e/hotel/). Please book your hotel directly (ask for the special BOKU university rates in the two hotels below!)

Hotel Park Villa****

Hotel Modul****

Important dates

31 Oct 2000: Registrations and short abstracts must be received
10 Nov 2000: Information on acceptance of papers and second circular
20 Nov 2000: Improved short abstracts on paper must be received
04-06 Dec 2000: Duration of the workshop
31 Dec 2000: Contributions for CD-ROM proceedings must be received.

Contact address

Informal Workshop Meteorology & CTBT Verification (IWS-MET-VER)
c/o Institute of Meteorology and Physics
Tuerkenschanzstr. 18
A-1180 Wien, Austria