Sustainable Development Reportfiles.meteofrance.com/files/guides/25431-48.pdf · OPTIMA output on 12/01/2010 at 16:30. A snow episode (in blue) moves across France. Behind it, rain

Sustainable developmentReport 2010

SustainabledevelopmentReport 2010

Météo-France is certifi ed to ISO 9001by Bureau Veritas Certifi cation

© Météo-France 2011Copyright April 2011ISSN: 2114-4532

Layout Monique Chaba, Maryse TouchéPrinted by D2C/IMP, Direction commercialeet de la communication de Météo-France.

Credit for the photographs on the cover Jean-Pierre Céron, CNRS, Météo-France/Pascal Taburet,

Météo-France.

Météo-France1, quai Branly75340 Paris Cedex 7France

Phone: +33 1 45 56 71 71Fax: +33 1 45 56 71 11

After november 2011:

73 avenue de Paris94160 Saint-MandéFrance

Phone: +33 1 77 94 77 94Fax: +33 1 77 94 71 11

www.meteofrance.com

Sustainable Development Report2010

Contents

FOREWORD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

1- CONTRIBUTING TO CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Energy: rational use and alternative sources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Contributing to sustainable agriculture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Contributing to reduce transport related emissions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

2- DEVELOPING SUSTAINABLE AIR TRANSPORT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Trajectory optimisation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Meteorological support for capacity optimisation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

3- ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Producing and disseminating information on the future climate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

Territories’ development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

4- HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Health risk prevention. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Pollution and air quality. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Forecasting pollutant drift and dispersion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

5- METEO-FRANCE’S EXPERTISE

IN INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Strong prospects and actions within the scope of WMO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Météo-France, partner in sustainable development aid for Africa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

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6- ECO-RESPONSIBILITY, A MAJOR CONCERN FOR THE INSTITUTE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Rethinking transport and travel management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Developing a strategy for rationalisationand planning of the real estate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37

Developing the socio-environmental aspect of purchasingand controlling consumption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

7- EDUCATION AND AWARENESS RAISING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Personnel training . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Specialised training . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41

Increasing public awareness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41

8- GLOSSARY OF INITIALS, ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

METEO FRANCE | 2010 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT REPORT

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Foreword

In the context of its Contract for Objectives and Performance signed with the government,

Météo-France has rallied all its scientifi c, technical and human potential in order to satisfy

the expectations of a society that is constantly facing with sustainable development

challenges.

Research carried out in this public institute, its support to public policies and its assistance to

integrate economic activities within a framework respecting the environment are all contribu-

tions to this essential concern. They involve Météo-France’s expertise in matters of climate as

well as its meteorological competencies.

In parallel, the institute is developing an eco-responsible approach and endeavours to

constantly improve its operations, with the clear aim of becoming itself an exemplary actor.

The present report bears witness to that day-to-day commitment to a sustainable development

approach by illustrating Météo-France’s involvement within fi elds as varied as human health,

agriculture, transport, climate, and development assistance.

François Jacq

Chief Executive Offi cer

MÉTÉO FRANCE | 2010 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT REPORT

CONTRIBUTING TO CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION

Météo-France plays an important role in enabling the different

professional sectors to meet the commitments of the Grenelle

Environment programme. These include, in particular,

the improvement of energy effi ciency, the development of

renewable energies, more stringent environmental

requirements in the agricultural sector, and a reduction in

pollution and greenhouse gas emissions in the transport industry.

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MÉTÉO FRANCE | 2010 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT REPORT



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Energy: rational use and alternative sources

As meteorology is one of the essential factors in effi cient energy management, Météo-France has become an historic partner of the French electricity producing and transmitting companies. Specifi c products have been developed to help them fi nding the optimum balance between supply and demand. Forecasts based on statistical adjustments of temperature and, to a lesser degree, of cloud cover, thus make it possible to estimate with a high degree of accuracy the electricityelectricity consumption for the coming days.

Knowledge of reference temperatures taking climatechange into account enables energy companies to provide input for their consumption models, thus guaranteeing continuity and quality in the energy distribution, in particular when extreme events occur. To meet these needs, in 2010

Météo-France developed various series of corrected temperatures and energy reference temperatures (three-hourly and daily data, extremes or average).

Moreover, the institute is greatly involved in the development of renewable energies, whose share in total energy consumption should reach more than 20% by 2020, according to the commitments of the Grenelle Environment programme. This activity has recently seen strong growth in demand from the solar area. In order to meet with it, Météo-France has implemented new products, services and specifi c forms of assistance. An offer for local assessment of the solar potential has also been submitted, and solar radiation forecasts have been realised over France by using statistical adaptation. In addition, forecasting of cloud cover will also enable extending the actions to areas outside mainland France.

On Monday 27 September 2010, the catamaran Planet Solar put out from the port of Monaco, powered by electric engines fuelled exclusively by photovoltaic cells. Météo-France wasrouting the ship through a piece of software built to optimise the course for taking the best advantage of expected solar energy inputs.

First world circumnavigation in a “solar” ship

The Planet Solar solar vessel.

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Contributing to sustainable agriculture

Agriculture currently faces a great number of challenges. Forty years from now, agricultural production will have to be doubled to feed more than nine billion people on Earth while assigning increased importance to social and environmentalconditions. Following the recommendations of the Grenelle Environment programme, France has adopted the Ecophyto 2018 plan, which is aimed at reducing the use of phytosanitary products and increasing its safety, in particular by halving the pesticide quantities between now and 2018. Within that framework, Météo-France works in cooperationwith the Institut français de la vigne et du vin (IFV – French Vine and Wine Institute) to map the risk of powdery mildew on the agricultural parcel scale and select the best preventive treatments. Trials conducted on Bordeaux vineyards were expanded in the Val de Loire and Cognac regions in 2010, with the objective of implementing refi ned modelling procedures on all vineyards throughout France. The meteorological data employed are the ANTILOPE kilometre precipitation analyses, combining radardata, local observations and information producedwith the new AROME operational model of 2.5 kmresolution.

Decision-making assistance bulletins for phytosanitary treatments. This bulletin enables to take into account all parameters that may impact treatment effi cacy. Prerequisites: Wind speeds under 19 km/h to prevent dispersion beyond the fi elds, little or no precipitation to prevent leaching, and relatively

moderate temperatures to prevent excessively fast evaporation of the treatment products. Following a simple code, the colours indicate the greater or lesser suitability of the period for treat-ment. The rules defi ning the colours are selected in agreement with the user.

Meteorological instru-ments in the vineyards at Château d’Yquem, Sauternes, in theGironde region of France.

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In response to expectations of agricultural entrepre-neurs, in 2010 MétéoFrance developed a new offer providing access, via an extranet, to ANTILOPE precipi-tation data and to decision-making assistance bulletins.The objective was to characterise meteorologicalconditions that may or may not be favourable tothe application of phytosanitary treatments,for all time brackets.

Thus, a number of tools were developed to facilitateenvironmentally friendly water resource management.These tools enable, in particular,better characterisation of agricultural droughts based on soil humidity data available on a daily, ten-day and monthly basis over regular 8 km mesh sections.

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CONTRIBUTING TO CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION1

Météo-France offers a wide series of agro-meteorological products to help farmers organizing their activities and controlling their costs.

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Real-time weather on roads

With the OPTIMA tool, Météo-France now provides geolocalised information on weather conditions over the road network by 5 km sections. Data arerefreshed every fi ve minutes by merging forecasts andobservations. They provide information on the condi-tions that are expected over the following 60 minutes.

Users can thus take precautions to help preventing the formation of traffi c jams, reducing accident risks and limiting impacts on the environment.

When extended over a 24 hour period, thisinformation provides road managers with a tool to anticipate events such as frost, ice or snow, to optimally apply ad hoc measures, and to reducethe number of required interventions.

Contributing to reduce transport related emissions

With the information pro-vided by the OPTIMA tool, users can take measures to prevent or avoid traffi c jams.

OPTIMA output on 12/01/2010 at 16:30. A snow episode (in blue) moves across France. Behind it, rain areas are shown in green. Inclusions (in red) indicate the presence of freezing rain.

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Evaluating the impacts of each mode of transport

Coordinated by the German Aerospace Centre (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt - DLR), the European QUANTIFY project, completed in 2010, was set out to evaluate the relative effects of road, maritime and air transports on climate and on atmospheric composition. Radiative forcing of the main contaminants emitted by combustion and by air conditioning systems was evaluated for each mode of transport.

By incorporating these elements, Météo-France carried out climate simulations over the period 1860-2100, for an average economic growth sce-nario, i.e. the A1B global scenario emissions of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). In the course of the twenty-fi rst century, the CO2 emis-sions from road, maritime and air transports would translate into global scale warming, respectively estimated at 0.3, 0.1 and 0.1°C. That is a total of 0.5°C as compared to the 2.2°C corresponding to the entire set of human activities included in the A1B scenario. With an additional warming of 0.15°C, the estimated impact of the other contaminants produced by air transport is signifi cant. In return, during the same period, the SO2 and NOx emissions generated by maritime transport would produce cooling by 0.1°C.

With strong values at ground level, forecasted under the high latitudes of the northern hemisphere, and at altitudes between 500 and 200 hPa, forecasted in tropical regions, the resulting temperature changes will not be uniformly distributed. Thus, the impact of “non CO2” emissions from airplanes could reach 0.5°C in the middle latitude troposphere of the northern hemisphere between 2091 and 2100.

These innovative simulations constitute a milestonetowards a more accurate determination of sectorrelated impacts.

Changes in mean temperature, precipitation and cloud cover attributed to the different modes of transport in the IPCC’s A1B scenario. The impact of CO2 emissions (in light blue for roadtransport, in violet for air and maritime transports) is differentiated from that of the other contaminants (in light blue for air, in redfor maritime and in green for road transport).


The sustainable air transport issue combines optimal capacity management, cost control and minimisation of the environmental footprint. Météo-France contributes to this endeavour with its operational activities and by means of targeted research anddevelopment activities.The impacts of combustion emissions and condensation trails were studied within the scope of the European QUANTIFY projectto evaluate the relative effects of the various transportmeans on climate and on atmospheric composition (see precedingchapter: Contributing to climate change mitigation).As taking the weather factor into account is essential for airplane trajectory optimisation, Météo-France participates in several specifi c projects of the European SESAR (Single European Sky Air traffi c management Research) and CLEANSKY programmes.

DEVELOPING SUSTAINABLEAIR TRANSPORT

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At the core of a sustainable development of air transport, trajectory optimisation targets both traffi c regularity, optimum use of the airspace, proper management of fuel consumption, and reduction in the environmental footprint.

Within the scope of SESAR (Single European Sky Air Traffi c Management Research), Météo-France works with the French Air Navigation Services Department (DSNA) in the “Complexity Management in En Route” and “Separation Task in En Route Trajectory Based Environment” projects, initiated in 2010. The intention is to enable traffi c managers and operators to better plan trajectories and to anticipate potential confl icts by taking weather conditions into account. The fi rst tasks focused on the identifi cation of three-dimensional wind fi elds to be employed in the trajectory planning software, on the objective evaluation of their quality, and on the characterisation of the most common errors made by aviation users in manipulating information on the available wind fi elds. Both deferred and real time experiments are planned over the next few years.

Within the European CLEANSKY project, Météo-France, together with GTD, Atmosphère and Use2Aces societies, participates in the SIMET project,

which is part of the “Green Operations” Integrated Technology Demonstrator (ITD). The objective is to look for an air traffi c organization minimising the environmental impacts, with, in particular, a choice of trajectories that would limit fuel consumption and/or the formation of cirrus clouds due to condensation trails. After having prepared an archive covering several years of data, in 2010 Météo-France contributed to the development of a piece of software dedicated to the detection of weather situations meeting with criteria predefi ned for traffi c simulators. It is then possible to extract both forecasted and analysed environmetal conditions such as wind or temperature but also the risks for some substantial impact phenomena such as icing, turbulence or storms. Interfaced with Météo-France’s database, AIRLAB, the CLEANSKY simulation platform, will enable to evaluate differentscenarios and to study the potential benefi t of using wind forecasts refreshed during fl ights.

Météo-France also participates in the CAPITOLE project organized by the Aerospace Valley competitiveness centre to optimise fl ight management through the availability of wind fi eld data in the aircraft cockpits.

Trajectory optimisation

DEVELOPING SUSTAINABLE AIR TRANSPORT

At the core of a sustainable development of air transport, trajectory optimisation aims, among other things, at traffi c regularity and optimum use of the airspace.

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In 2010, work focused on the improvement of winter and low visibility condition forecasting which has a strong impact on airport capacitymanagement. Moreover, the consequences of the eruption of the Eyjafjöll volcano led Météo-Franceto suggest several concepts for a better observationof ash concentrations in the airspace.

Forecasting winterand low visibility conditions

To anticipate snow perturbations arriving from the east, a new automatic station for present weather and ground condition (snow covered, frozen, moist, dry) measurement has been set up in Vinantes (Seine-et-Marne) and some one hundred specialised “weather watchers” have been trained in the collection and real time transmission via the Internet of observa-tions made in the Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle airport area.

As concerns management of low visibility conditions, the measurements carried out with an acoustic SODAR (Sonic Detection And Ranging) instrument were shown to have a positive impact on the forecasting of fog development and dissipation. The operational availa-bility (99 %) of these observations in the airport environment has been confi med. Provisions have beenmade for the use of this instrument in 2011 and forthe inclusion of its data within the forecastingoperational chain.

Meteorological support for capacity optimisation


Measurement of the fog layer top by SODAR at Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle. These data, intended to helpforecasting fog dissipation, are consistent with the observationscarried out, in parallel, with radio-soundings. The fog layer top is shown by the limit between high refl ectivities (in red) and lower ones ( in blue).

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Managing the volcanic ash impact on air traffi c

The economic impact of the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjöll’s eruption has highlighted the aviation sector vulnerabi-lity and the need to better determine and forecast the areas where portions of the airspace can be opened up, as did the French Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC) during the episode that took place in April/May 2010.

On a meteorological basis, the reduction in forecast uncertainties is principally based on a better observa-tion of the source and of concentrations emitted into the atmosphere. Experience has shown that a network of LIDARs, supplemented by airborne measurements of the ash chemical and physical properties, could effi ciently perform this task. However, signifi cant research work remains to be done in order to evaluate its potential contribution and optimise its use in real time. For this purpose, Météo-France has become a partner in the SOFRA-EX project for future investment coordina-ted by the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifi que (CNRS) (the French National Centre for Scientifi c Research) and including the implementation of a LIDAR network and of airborne instruments devoted to the study of aerosols and of their impact on climate.

DEVELOPING SUSTAINABLE AIR TRANSPORT

Smoke plume of the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjöll, as viewed from the Terra satellite on 6 May 2010.

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Mapping of a LIDAR network enabling the 3D observation of aerosols (“A” sites) and of wind (by means of Doppler capaci-ties, on “V” sites) to meet the needs for climate and volcano ash studies.


This year has been characterised by Météo-France’s participation in the development of France’s National Climate Change AdaptationPlan (PNACC). A permanent involvement has been ensured in the three working groups of the “Consultation Adaptation”, and suggestions have been made for the White Book. These contributions are based on a Météo-France appraisal consistently enhanced by active collaboration in all areas affected by climate change. Four Météo-France scientists have thus been appointed to participate in the development of the 5th report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The DRIAS cooperative project will facilitate access to the French regionalised climate scenarios for impact and adapta-tion studies. Finally, Météo-France is preparing an offer aimed at the regions which must develop climate, air and energy mapping in agreement with the Grenelle Environment programme.

ADAPTATIONTO CLIMATE CHANGE

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Developing climate projections on a territorial scale

Météo-France regularly produces regionally customised climate scenarios to support the defi nition of territorial adaptation and biodiversity preservation policies within the context ofclimate change.

The objective is to reduce uncertainties in climate predictions and to improve the analysis of climate change impacts at the regional scale. Thus, simu-lations were carried out using a stretched version of the ARPÈGE-Climate model, which achieves a resolution of 50 km on the pertinent areas, and of the ALADIN-Climate limited area model, which has a resolution of 25 km. They are generally forced by conditions at the lateral limits that are generated by coupled simulations provided to the IPCC and following the main scenarios describing greenhouse gas trends.

Making available the results of climate simulations

The DRIAS portal will facilitate access to the regionalised climate scenarios developed by the French research teams of the European Centre for Research and Advanced Training in Scientifi c Computation (CERFACS), the Pierre-Simon-Laplace Institute (IPSL) and Météo-France. It will offer digital data and simple products to stakeholders involved in climate change impact and adaptation studies, and enable them to more easily use this basic material that is essential for their work.

Organized in the form of a project gathering all its partners, co-fi nanced by the Climate Change Management and Impacts Programme (GICC) of the Ministry of Ecology, DRIAS places users at the centre of its action. A user committee supports the development team. Its members are representa-tive of the broad spectrum of clients, including scientifi c teams, private sector research companies and big corporations. A survey of their expectations was carried out and its results act as references for the functional specifi cations of the future portal, whose fi rst prototype is expected for 2011.

Producing and disseminating information on the future climate

ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE3

Maximum daytime temperature in summer (°C) over France at the end of the twenty-fi rst century, as simulated with ALADIN-Climate, driven by the CNRM-CM3 model in the last IPCC exercise (A1B scenario).

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InterviewStéphane Hallegatte

Questions to Stéphane Hallegatte, scientist at Météo-France and at the International Environment and Development Research Centre (CIRED), author at the IPCC.

@ After the 16th Conference of the parties (COP 16) held in Cancún, Mexico, in December 2010, what is the status of the inter-national agreements on climate change?

The Kyoto protocol is reaching its term. In 2012, there will no longer be any “compelling” international agreement on the fi ght against climate warming. In spite of a certain amount of progress in Cancún – protection of tropical forests, greater precision on the operation of the “green fund” to

help developing countries – the problems remain: no consensus on the constraints to reduce greenhouse gas emissions or on the fi nancing of the “greenfund” ... However, the texts signed on this occasion signify a return to negotiations within the UN scope and offer prospects of hope for the COP 17 which will meet at the end of 2011, in Durban, South Africa.

@ In 2010, Météo-France and the CIRED partici-pated in the working groups formed by the Ministry to develop the National Climate Change Adaptation Plan. What are its objectives?

The national climate change adaptation plan must be submitted by the end of spring 2011. The coordination implemen-ted by the Ministry has gathered territorial communities, central administrations, NGOs, unions and businesses. The working groups share the research topics: biodiversity, water, health,

natural risks, agriculture, forests, energy, transport, tourism and town planning infrastructures, fi nancing, research, information, education and governance. Météo-France brings its expertise on climate change expected during the twenty-fi rst century, and the CIRED its expertise on the evaluation of adaptation strategies and on the methodology to build such strategies.

In June 2010, the working groups submitted a fi rst report proposing some 200 adaptation measures. Research and development, defi nition of new standards, and institutional modifi cations to take climate change into account in our decisions, constitute the core of these measures.

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Météo-France contributes in several partnership and multidisciplinary actions on climate change impacts and on territories’ adaptation. The main issue is to meet societal demand and regions’ solicitations, which must, within the scope of the Grenelle Environment programme, developclimate, air and energy regional plans. These studies concern in particular climate change impacts on hydrology and water resource management, snowfall and avalanche risks, agriculture, biodiversity and sensitive ecosystems.

Impact studies on a regional scale

The regional Climate-Air-Energy plan of the Rhône-Alpes region comprises an aspect of adaptation to climate change for which Météo-France was requested to prepare a study.

The topic was to characterise the current climate and its probable change patterns. The ARPÈGE-Climate results demonstrated highly signifi cant increases in temperature, reinforced in the plains (the Rhône valley and the southern part of the Drôme – Ardèche region), and lesser change in terms of precipita-tion. For the latter parameter, however, the eastern Alps sector (Vercors and Chablais) constitute an exception: a distinct decline in the annual precipi-tation amount was detected and could, according to the simulations, reach 20% by 2080. This work also made it possible to quantify expected climate change impacts on the region’s wind power potential.Such studies have been extended to all of France in order to enable their use on other territories.

Territories’ development


Climate change as expected in the Rhône-Alpes region over the twenty-fi rst century.

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Climate change and forest fi res

The risk of forest fi res constitutes a threat to biodiversity and sustainable development of our territories. At the request of the General Directorate for Risk Prevention (DGPR), Météo-France analysed the variations of the Meteorological Fire Index (IFM), an indicator used to evaluate the global fi re danger (breakout and propagation) in relation with surface weather and vegetation conditions.The index variations can be reconstructed based on past observations and on modelling of ground-atmosphere interactions, and then simulated based on climate projections prepared for the IPCC.

A comparison of the periods 1961-1980 and 1989-2008, for the entire territory, shows an average increase of the IFM possibly reaching 20% over the summer period, with lengthening fi re seasons and expansion of high risk areas. If this trend were

to continue, in 2030 it could, on a country-wide scale, translate into an average of a thousand additional fi res each year. By 2060, the average meteorological fi re risk observed today on the Mediterranean rim would extend to almost the entire French mainland territory. According to scenarios A1B and A2, the conditions found in 2003 would, from that time onwards, become the standard in terms of meteorological fi re risk.

Upon completion of that work, a risk zoning principle was defi ned in collaboration with the French National Forestry Offi ce (ONF). It is based on IFM data and on the fi re sensitivity of the timbers constituting the forest areas.


Mean IFM index as reconstructed for the period 1989-2008(on the left) and simuladed for the year 2060: in the IPCC’s A1B scenario(in the middle) and in the IPCC’s A2 scenario(on the right). The probability of a fi re is low as long as the IFM remains below 20.

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Forest fi res constitute a threat to biodiversity and territories’ sustainable development.

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Fire risk in New Caledonia

Since September 2010, Météo-France New Caledonia operates a new tool to evaluate weather conditionsthat are favourable to the start of fi res and to their propagation. It is derived from a method deve-loped in Canada that has been implemented to use the latest data on precipitations as well as humidity, temperature and wind forecasts from the European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF). This development was partly fi nanced by the French National Research

New Caledonia fi re risk map. On 6 October 2010, the risk

was comprised between “high” (in orange) and “very high” (in red) over the entire

archipelago.

Agency (ANR) within the scope of the multidisciplinary New Caledonia Fire (INC) project. During the bush fi re season (September to November), its operational use has been entirely satisfactory, in particular for the Civil Security and Safety services which could thus quickly and securely access a risk map updated twice a day. Development will continue in 2011, using high resolution simulations (2.5 km from the AROME model.

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As a result of studies carried out in 2009, the Piton Villers site, located in the Tampon district, was selected for the installation of the new radar.Funding will be provided by the Exceptional Overseas Investment fund, the Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development, Transports and Housing (MEDDTL), the Tampon district and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The contract was notifi ed in July. Installation is planned to take place in September 2011 with commissioning at the beginning of the 2011-2012 hurricane season. The cornerstone for the building was set on 20 October.


Towards a better management of the fl ooding risk in the Reunion island

As the southern part of the Reunion Island is at risk of fl ooding, the creation of a Hydrological Monitoring Unit (CVH) was confi rmed in October 2010. Its mission on diagnostic and risk anticipation for high water and torrential runoff will be carried out by the Department of Environment, Housing and Land Use (DEAL) in cooperation with Météo-France. In order to characterise approaching tropical storms, it requires the installation of a second weather radar in the southern part of the island, to supplement that set up in 1992 in the north. Their combination will enable real time mapping of precipitations on almost the entire island.

Quality of the precipitation estimation on the Reunion Island, obtained with the Colorado radar only(on the left) and with an additional radar set up in Piton Villers (on the right).Indications go from good quality estimation(in blue)to medium one (in green)and bad one (in pink).

4


The management of health risks linked to atmospheric environment,

climate conditions and their future changes is a major aspect of public

policy. Météo-France contributes to characterising some of these risks.

To fi ght against atmospheric pollution, the institute supports the

national air quality management efforts and participates in the design

of atmospheric services provided by GMES (Global Monitoring

for Environment and Security), together with other French and European

partners. Météo-France also contributes to the management of

risks linked to accidental pollution in maritime and atmospheric

environments by implementing systems to forecast drift at sea and

dispersion in the atmosphere.

HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT

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Health risk prevention

While health risks in connection with extreme cold episodes are obvious for the particularly vulne-rable category of the homeless, their impacts on the population as a whole are less known. They can, however, be strong, and are the object of a collaboration with the French institute for public health surveillance (InVS) to defi ne warning criteria and appropriate modes of public communication.

In the area of solar risk education, Météo-France is now producing overseas UV index forecasts. Some work has also been initiated in mainland France to improve index forecasting at winter sports resorts by taking into account the effect of snow on the ground.

Seasonal forecasting of the risk of dengue fever epidemic has been perfected in New Caledonia. Two other vector transmitted diseases – the Rift Valley fever and malaria – were also studied within the scope of the AdaptFVR and PaluClim projects of the MICC (Management and Impacts of Climate Change) research programme. Taking into account the relationships between rain episodes and the emergence of mosquitoes, the task consists in examining the impact of climate variability on rainfall amounts, and therefore on the risk of an epidemic.

UV index in the absence of clouds on four overseas sites, from 1 July 2009 to 30 June 2010. The values reach their maximum during local summers with much higher levels than those observed in mainland France.


25

The virus that causes dengue fever and its principal vector, the Aedes Aegypti mosquito, represent a major public health problem in New Caledonia, as indeed elsewhere in tropical regions.The number of cases varies signifi cantly from one year to the next. Numerous epidemiological, meteorological and entomological factors play a role in these fl uctuations, and complicates the task of the health authorities in preparinghealth professionals for an epidemic eventuality.

A statistical study was conducted by Météo-France New Caledonia, within the scope of a research programme of the Overseas Ministry, in collaboration with the Research for Development Institute (IRD) and the Pasteur Institute of Noumea. It revealed the major role played by temperature, and not (as could have been expected) by precipitation, in the occurrence of epidemics in urban and periurban environments. The development of a seasonal forecasting tool, based on the results of the ARPÈGE-Climate model, now enables the health authorities to be provided with morepertinent information on this risk.

A statistical dengue propagation model


Aedes Aegypti female, a mosquito that is the main vector for yellow fever and dengue.

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il)Dengue epidemics in New Caledonia since 1973. There are four serotypes of dengue. The graph shows the number of cases recorded for each serotype.


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Météo-France regularly supports the French Air Quality Monitoring Associations (AASQA) with its weather expertise. It also participates in the PREV’AIR national air quality platform. In 2010, it has provided forecasts of new parame-ters supplied by the MOCAGE model, such as particles in suspension in the atmosphere.

In December, Météo-France and the National Institute for Industrial Environment and Risks (INERIS) signed a framework agreement that reinforces their coo-peration in air quality forecasting and industrial air pollution management matters. The agreement provides for joint research, development and operational production aimed at the development of the PREV’AIR system at the heart of the national air quality monitoring system. Work is underway to ensure that the two PREV’AIR models, MOCAGE and CHIMERE, will both benefi t from contributions of the AROME model’s fi ne scale weather forecasting.

With its PREV’AIR partners, Météo-France also plays an important role in the implementation of air quality services in Europe, within the scope of the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) programme and of the Monitoring Atmospheric Composition and Climate (MACC) project. Seventy-two hour air quality forecasts are made using a set of seven European models, including MOCAGE. They are supplemented with analyses of surface observations and evaluated on a daily basis. Since 2010, Météo-France has operated the platform that offers these services and provides data for the European Environment Agency (EEA) “Eye-On-Earth” system intended to provideinformation on the environmental conditionsin nearly real time.

Over the long term, the GMES services could benefi t from ozone, carbon monoxide and other important chemical compound observations carried out by the IAGOS (Integration of Routine Aircraft Measurements into a Global Observing System) airborne infrastructure. In its preparatory phase, IAGOS seeks to defi ne the long-term operation forcollecting physicochemical measurements from scheduled airliners. Within this framework, Météo-France has, in particular, committed to participate in the real time dissemination of such data on the WMO’s transmission system.

Pollution and air quality

HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT4

Pollution over Paris.

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campaigns were carried out over the Île-de-France region in July 2009 and in January/February 2010, in order to study the interactions between largeurban centres, air quality and climate. For CHARMEX, which concentrates on Mediterranean regions,the currently planned measurement campaigns are intended to take place in 2012 or 2013.

The institute also participates in two research programmes seeking better understandingof the physical and chemical processes related to air quality: MEGAPOLI (urban environment air pollution measurement campaign) and CHARMEX (Chemistry-Aerosol Mediterranean Experiment). In MEGAPOLI, two airborne measurement

Example of overall surface ozone forecasting displayed on the platform of the MACC ( http://macc-raq.gmes-atmosphere.eu) “air quality” services, operated by Météo-France.

Surface Ozone Daily Mean [ µg/m3 ]Saturday 20 November 2010 00UTC MACC-RAQ Forecast D+0 VT: Saturday 20 November 2010

CHIMERE

020406080100120140160180200240500

EMEP

020406080100120140160180200240500

SILAM

020406080100120140160180200240500

LOTOS-EUROS

020406080100120140160180200240500

MOCAGE

020406080100120140160180200240500

EURAD-IM

020406080100120140160180200240500

MATCH

020406080100120140160180200240500

ENSEMBLE MEDIAN (N=7)

020406080100120140160180200240500

28

The MOTHY sea drift forecasting system is run more than 600 times a year to assist the authorities in charge of pollution fi ghting (oil slicks in particular) and those in charge of search and rescue of people and objects overboard. Work on the forecasting system is now underway to improve wind and current forcing, and to better evaluate uncertainties.

Atmospheric dispersion of accidental chemicaland nuclear spills is forecast with the MOCAGE-Accident system on a regional to continental scale, and with the PERLE system for shorter distances. In 2010, the former was, in particular, used in connection with the eruption of the Icelandic volcano and with the summer fi res in Russia. As for the latter, its ability to take advantage of AROME meteorological forcing is now operational.

Forecasting pollutant driftand dispersion

HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT4

Relative pollutant concentration forecast one hour after the beginning of a simulated spill at Reyssouze in the Ain Département. This dispersion simulation was performed with the PERLE system, forced with weather forecasts from the AROME high resolution model.

Oil spill pollution at sea.

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In a context characterised by climate change, where sustainable

development represents a global challenge, Météo-France participates

in numerous projects in partnership with the World Meteorological

Organisation (WMO) and African countries. It is supported by its

overseas offi ces and takes advantage of its capabilities in training,

research and seasonal forecasting of the inter-tropical atmosphere.

In 2010, a special effort was made to provide support to Haiti’s weather

service after a series of catastrophic earthquake.

METEO FRANCE’S EXPERTISEIN INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION


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In late 2009, the third annual World Climate Conference, organized in Geneva, agreed to establish a Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS). In 2010, a high level working group was instructed to specify pertinent defi nitions and methodologies. According to WMO Secretary General Michel Jarraud, the challenges involved in the GFCS are conside-rable for sustainable development within the context of international negotiations. He considers that: “Most socio-economic sectors are sensitive to the natural climate and weather variability and to its evolution. Reliable climate services based on the latest scientifi c advances and provided at different levels (global, regional, national and local) and in various time scales are essential todesign and implement effective adaptationmeasures and to best manage climate risks.

The establishment of the GFCS will help to betterunderstand the climate system, to fi ll the informational gaps at global, regional, national and local levels, to use this information in various socio-economic sectors at all decision-making levels,to evaluate climate risks and to develop mitigation and adaptation measures. In order to reach its objectives, the Framework will maintain anambitious reinforcement and developmentapproach for the existing institutions, theirinfrastructure and their means of productionand dissemination of climate related information,as well as for cross-disciplinary partnerships andregional and international cooperation.”

Under the aegis of WMO, several weather services took action for providing support to

Haiti’s National Meteorological Centre (CNM). The task was to provide this institute with the means to carry out its weather related safety mission for the benefi t of a population that had become even more vulnerable to hurricanes, fl oods and landslides further to the earthquakes of January 2010.

To confront the hurricane season and, later on, heavy rains, a forecast unit for Haiti was set up in June at the Météo-France centre on Martinique. Forecasters from Météo-France, Environnement Canada and the British Met Offi ce took turns working at the new unit throughout the year to confer with Haitian forecasters, taking advantage of meteorology products shared on a Web site developed and operated by Environnement Canada with the collaboration of Météo-France. It is plannedto continue this action in 2011. The Martinique centre also hosted a training workshop that was organized together with the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on the use of a system to aid in the management of fl ash fl oods.

Strong prospects andactions within the scope of WMO

METEO FRANCE’S EXPERTISE IN INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

31


Training is also decisive for countries in which sustainable development necessitates good tropical storm forecasting. This is why, from 2 to 13 November 2010, Météo-France welcomed, in La Reunion, 15 trainees from the Africa Region Tropical Storm Committee member countries (Botswana, Comoros, Kenya, Reunion/France, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Maurice, Mozambique, Namibia, South African Republic, Seychelles, Swaziland, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe). Three sessions have taken place under the aegis of WMO, led by trainers from the specialised regional weather centre, the tropical storm research unit in La Reunion, Paul-Sabatier University in Toulouse and the South African, Australian and British weather services.

With a longer term perspective, the focus has been on training. Météo-France and the WMO quickly organized hosting for fi ve Haitian meteorologists to follow a forecasting training cycle, from September 2010 to July 2011, at the French National School of Meteorology in Toulouse.

Haitian meteorologists at the National School of Meteorology [École nationale de la météorologie (ENM)] in Toulouse, for a training course on meteorologicalforecasting.

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Fifteen trainees participated in the training sessionsorganised in La Reunion by the WMO’s Africa Region TropicalStorm Committee.

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In Africa, Météo-France supports numerous meteorological and climate aid projects for sustainable development. Thus, since 1998, the institute has brought its technical and scientifi c support to help the African Centre of Meteorological Application for Development (ACMAD) organising the PRESAO forums dedicated to seasonal forecasting in West Africa.

In May of every year, these forums gather experts from 18 African countries to compare their seasonal forecasts to those of other world centres: Météo-France in Toulouse, the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), and the International Research Institute for Climate and Society (IRI). The objective is to develop consensual forecasting for a region that extends, in latitude, from the Gulf of Guinea to Sub-Saharan Africa, and, in longitude, from Senegal to Chad.

It is also an opportunity to discuss with decision makers about the potential impacts on agriculture, water resource management and food safety.

By way of example, forecasting has been used to improve agricultural production in Mali. It was also possible, in 2008, to reduce the impactof catastrophic fl ooding thanks to the preventiveimplementation of simple alert systems adaptedto African rural life, emergency food stores and trained assistance personnel.

In 2010, Météo-France suggested an evolution of the forum towards a more operational form that would provide greater fl exibility in the different countries. Based on the ACMAD adaptation of Météo-France’s seasonal forecasts and on their transmission to the participating services, the process will enable national forecasters to concentrate on the downstream development of products adapted to theirspecifi c needs.

Météo-France, partner in sustainable development aid for Africa


Presentations of the consensual forecasting developed during the 2010 ACMAD PRESAO forum.

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Research is another important area of cooperation for the future of the African continent. Thus, Phase 2 ofthe AMMA (Multidisciplinary African Monsoon Analysis) programme, initiated in 2010, concentrates on a study of predictability and improvement of meteorological, seasonal and climate forecasting. The objective is to provide a response to societal expectations of the African countries mobilised within the AMMA African Committee. To reinforce the capabilities of African researchers to contribute in these long term studies, Météo-France also participates in the LPAO-SF Master’s

Degree programme, in Dakar, and supports some African PhD students. Thus, two thesis fi nanced and supervised by Météo-France were completed in 2010, and work had started on a third one. In addition, the institute also provides ACMAD with technical assistance to develop operational applications of the AMMA results. It also partners with the Air Navigation Safety Agency in Africa and Madagascar (ASECNA), within the scope of an applicationto the European Commission to maintain theradio-sounding network.



At 65 m high, the Manantali dam, situated on the Bafi ng in Mali, has a holding volume of 12 billions m3 and an annual hydroelectric production of 800 GWh guaranteed nine years out of ten.

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Météo-France also participates in various targeted sustainable development projects. In this domain, a partnership was formalised in 2005, with the Organisation for the Exploitation of the Senegal River, to provide management of the Manantali dam, in a project that represents considerable socio-economic and environmental stakes. Indeed, the hydroelectric production to be distributed to Mali, Mauritania and Senegal depend on it, but also the ecological balance of the river basin and the agricultural revenues of the local populations who grow traditional off-season crops in the river’s lower valley. Since 2002, a Senegal River Water Charter has defi ned the terms of an equitable, solidarity based water resource management approach that governs the actions of all players in the cross-border basin.

Within this context, the seasonal forecast of the river’s natural fl ow volumes, produced at the end of July by the Research for Development Institute (IRD) and Météo-France, constitutes a crucial decision aid for the Permanent Water Commission, which schedules the water quantities to be released between end of August and mid-October. The latest analysis confi rms that this optimised dam management would enable energy production to be increased by 35 to 40%, and that the artifi cial fl ooding would then enable traditional crops to be grown on 50,000 ha four years out of fi ve, instead of only one in the absence of seasonal forecasting.

Météo-France’s activities are essentially of a scientifi c and technical nature. Since they do not imply any industrial processes, their impact on the environment is limited. However, the institute has a strong desire to be a reliable partner in sustainable development. The context is favourable: staff members, strongly involved in this issue, are highlymotivated for a mobilisation directed at accomplishing this goal.

The main components of the action include in particular:• Travel management;• Impacts of structures and, more particularly, energy expenditure;• Socio-environmental aspect of procurement.

ECO-RESPONSIBILITY, A MAJOR CONCERN FOR THE INSTITUTE

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In view of recent requirements to reduce greenhouse gas production, Météo-France could no longer be satisfi ed with mere adjustment measures. It becamenecessary to entirely rethink current praticesand to adopt environmentally friendlierorganisational procedures.

According to the institute structure and its business type, travels represent an important portion of its carbon footprint. This issue was dealt with as a priority. By lowering air travelling by more than 10% in 2009 and more than 20 % in 2010, in two years Météo-France reduced its carbon impact by one third.

Such progress became possible thanks to the installation and use of appropriate videoconferencingand web conferencing systems, but also by paying special attention to preparatory documentation availability and to meeting management. The development of web conferencing enables some remote meetings to be followed at the attendee’s own offi ce, stress-free and with all offl ine available documents. This method was proved to be very effective in terms of professional training.

The institute vehicle issue has been addressed with determination. With 333 units, the motor vehicle fl eet is not large, but it comprises a high proportion of old and therefore polluting vehicles. It will be reduced by 20% by 2013, and the most polluting vehicles will be replaced with more economic ones in order to achieve conformity with current relevant requirements.

Rethinking transport and travel management

ECO-RESPONSIBILITY, A MAJOR CONCERN FOR THE INSTITUTE6

Web conferencing systems are very effective in terms ofof professional training.

Trends in the number of air travels accomplished by the staff between Paris and Toulouse from 2008 to 2010.

37

Developing a strategy for rationalisationand planning of the real estate

To build a long term strategy, within the scope of its Multiannual Real Estate Strategy Plan, Météo-France has conducted a data collection phase followed by an analysis phase of its real estate portfolio.

The strategy plan includes several parts and enables the environmental impact issue to be approached through various angles: it then deals not only with occupancy rates but also with energy expenditure.

A study has been subcontracted to determine for the Toulouse portfolio, which is the most signifi cant within the institute, what work could be done to reduce energy expenditure. Its results will help to defi ne a multiannualimprovement programme in 2011.

At the same time, construction work of the Saint-Mandé headquarters is progressing at a constant rate, compatible with moving in, as

planned, during autumn 2011. The High Environmental Quality certifi cation has been applied for. Worksite organisation (low disturbance level) must be perfect in view of the presence of personnel on the site while the work is being performed, and of the building’s central location.Energy management, hygrothermal comfort, geothermal energy use for heating and cooling, reinforced insulation without false ceilings, are all commitments representing guarantees for economic operation and low pollutant emissions.

In the other French regions, local initiatives were followed with a setof specifi c improvements. The la date concerns test to an extension to the Lyon - Bron Interregional Meteorological Centre, which will enable to group, under environmentallyfavourable conditions, a large part of the local services initially spread over several sites.


Artist’s impression of Météo-France’s future headquarters in Saint-Mandé (Val-de-Marne).

38

The concept of ecologically responsible purchasingis now well integrated in the minds of the institute’s staff.

Contract awards and introduction of socio-environmental clauses (with appropriate weighting) allow to effi ciently implement this aspect. Thus, while complying with the public tender’s code, our procurement procedures can favour businesses employing people that are in precarious socio-economicsituations.

The development of a database including Météo-France’s consumption was continued in order to provide a depth of information that will enable its monitoring over a period of several years.

Developing the socio-environmental aspect of purchasing and controlling consumption

ECO-RESPONSIBILITY, A MAJOR CONCERN FOR THE INSTITUTE 6


Commitment to sustainable development awareness raising and training, aimed at both Météo-France personnel and the outside public, continued to be actively pursued in 2010. It has been accompanied by a determination to promote distance education in the training events offered by the National School of Meteorology.

EDUCATIONAND AWARENESS RAISING

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7 EDUCATION AND AWARENESS RAISING

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The sustainable development topic is regularly approached in the initial training sessions provided at the National School of Meteorology (ENM), through modules devoted to geography, agro-meteorology, hydrology, pollution and air quality. A specifi c module, entitled “Becoming a fully-fl edged partner in sustainable development”has been implemented in the engineeringcurriculum. Students, technicians, seniortechnicians and engineers are also made awareof eco-responsibility issues during Météo-France presentation conferences.

As concerns continuous education, the success of training sessions related to climate change has been confi rmed in 2010, whether in terms of explaining the mechanisms (“Climate Change” training session) or of measuring their effects (“Climate Change Impacts” training session).

This year also saw the deployment of a web conferencing system and its implementation for training purposes. Various conferences have been organized “remotely”, with presenters addressing the students directly from their workplace.

Participation in the European EUMETCAL (European Meteorological Computer Assisted Learning) project has also been pursued. Its objective is to develop distance trainingand educational resource offers withinthe scope of EUMETNET, the network of 26 European meteorological services.

Personnel training

National School of Meteorology (ENM) in Toulouse.

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“Meteorological measurements and sensors” course for meteorology engineering students.

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41

Specialised training

The success enjoyed by opening up the course on climate change to the outside public has underlined the expectations of the different economic stakeholders in this area. Within this context, and upon request from the French environment and energy control agency (ADEME), Météo-France organised a specifi c course intended to accomplish more in-depth awarenessof its personnel.

In 2010, the second graduate class of the specialised Master’s Degree in Sustainable Development and Climate Change Management (GDDCC), implemented in partnership with the Toulouse business and agronomy schools (ESCT and ENSAT), completed its education, and the following wave has started the curriculum.

In parallel, the fi rst edition of the “Higher Education Studies Sustainable Development Cycle” in Midi-Pyrénées, born from a joint initiative of the speciali-sed GDDCC Master’s Degree, the Albi-Carmaux École des Mines and the University of Toulouse-1, brought together some 15 senior managers from industry, territorial communities and governmental public sectors. As a direct partner in the cycle, ENM undertook the organization of one of the sessions, focused on the understanding of climate change and its impacts.

In 2010, Météo-France joined the considerations to implement a new Sustainable Development Engineering training cycle that were launched by the National Polytechnic Institute of Toulouse, an umbrella organization for ENM.

Meteorological briefi ng at ENM on 17 June 2010.

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Increasing public awareness

In the context of climate change challenges, Météo-France takes part in numerous projectsaimed at raising the awareness of young peoplein the domain of atmospheric physics andobservation. Several actions have been conductedthroughout the country both in the form of conferences and exhibitions (at the Mont-Aigoual station, the Cité de l’Espace in Toulouse, Nausicaa in Boulogne-sur-Mer, etc.), but also of collaborations with the National Education Department and variouseducational and cultural associations.

Thus, for example, the “Weather at School” project, carried out in partnership with the “Sciences à l’école” (Science at School) association,enabled the installation of 28 automatic meteorological stations in 28 secondary schools. More than 500 primary school pupils also participated in the “Weather School”, a programme whose central theme this year was temperature.

Each year, in the Midi-Pyrénées region, the “Regional Young People’s Weather Meetings” (RRMJ) gather some 200 students who present their meteorology and/or climatology related projects to a jury of specialists. For them, it is also an occasion to participate in workshops and debates with professionals on different topics such as climatechange, radar measurements or weather forecasting models. To salute this awarenessraising initiative in relation to meteorology andclimate, the European Meteorological Society (EMS) rewarded the RRMJ by presenting it with the Outreach and Communication Award 2010 in Zurich on 16 September 2010.

Interview

Interview with Ms Puppo, Physics teacher at the Léon-Blum lower secondary school in Colomiers (Haute-Garonne)

@ In 2010, for its atmosphere and climate studies, your year 8 class received the fi rst prize at the Regional Young People’s Weather Meetings organised by Météo-France and Planète Sciences. What motivated your participation in this scheme?

As a teacher, I have been wor-king with the Planète Sciences association on scientifi c educational projects for many years now. Through them I received an invitation to participate in the Regional Young People’s Weather Meetings.

Meteorology is a subject that is quite easy to teach in the lower secondary school years because the Physics curricula in years 7 and 8 refer to it quite frequently. Water and air are among the subjects addressed. The notions examined are temperature, pressure, changes of state,pollution, and so on. The students are very motivated bythe experiments, the weather reports and the understandingof certain phenomena.

@ Will you participate in the 2011 Meetings?

At this time of the year, the decision has not yet been made. That said, we will certainly participate, provided we have enough volunteer students, which shouldn’t pose

a problem. The new project will still focus on the study of the atmosphere (climate change, air pollution, satellite data, etc.), and will probably be called “Certainties and uncertainties”.

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The students of the Léon-Blum lower secondary school receive the fi rst prize of the Regional Young People’s Weather Meetings.

Enthusiastic students at the Regional Young People’s Weather Meetings.

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METEO FRANCE | 2010 SUSTAINABLE dEVELOPMENT REPORT

GLOSSARY OF INITIALS,ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

8

AASQA: French Air Quality Monitoring AssociationsACMAD: African Centre for Meteorological Applications for developmentADAPTFVR: Impact of climate change on the emergence of Rift Valley fever vectors in SenegalADEME: French environment and energy control agencyALADIN: Limited surface, dynamic adaptation, international development modelAMMA: Multidisciplinary African Monsoon Analysis experimentANR: French National Research AgencyANTILOPE: Analysis by hourly spacing of precipitationsAROME: Applications of research to mesoscaleoperational aspects (digital high resolutionforecasting model by Météo-France)ARPÈGE: Large scale digital forecasting model by Météo-FranceASECNA: Agency for the safety ofair navigation in AfricaCERFACS: European Centre for Research and Advanced Training in Scientifi c ComputationCHARMEX: Chemistry-Aerosol Mediterranean ExperimentCHIMÈRE: IPSL and air quality forecasting modelCIRED: International Environnement and development Research CentreCLEANSKY: European project aimed at guiding aviation development towards lower disturbance levelsCNM: Haitian national meteorological centreCNRM: French National Centre for Meteorological ResearchCNRS: French National Centre for Scientifi c ResearchDGAC: French Civil Aviation AuthorityDGPR: General directorate for Risk PreventionDLR: deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt - German Aerospace CentreDRIAS: Project providing access to French regional climate scenarios for the impact and adaptation of our society and environmentDSNA: French Air Navigation Services department

ECMWF: European Centre for Medium-Range Weather ForecastsECOPHYTO 2018: Phytosanitary product use reduction and safety enhancement planEEA: European Environment AgencyENM: National School of MeteorologyENSAT: The National Institute of AgronomyERDF: European Regional development FundESCT: Toulouse Business schoolEUMETCAL: European Meteorological Computer Assisted Learning, a EUMETNET programmeEUMETNET: Network of 26 European meteorological servicesGDDCC: Sustainable development and Climate Change ManagementGFCS: Global Framework for Climate ServicesGICC: Climate Change Management and Impacts ProgrammeGMES: Global Monitoring for Environment and SecurityIAGOS: Integration of routine Aircraft measurements into a Global Observing SystemIFV: French vine and wine instituteINC: New Caledonia Fire projectINERIS: National Institute for the Industrial Environment and RisksInVS: French institute for public health surveillanceIPCC: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate ChangeIPSL: Institut Pierre-Simon-LaplaceIRD: Research for development InstituteMACC: Monitoring Atmospheric Composition and Climate MEDDTL: Ministry of ecology, sustainable development, transports and housingMEGAPOLI: Urban environment air pollution measurement campaignMOCAGE: Macro-scale atmospheric chemistry modelMOCAGE-ACCIDENT: MOCAGE version appliedto atmospheric dispersion of point pollutionat regional to continental scaleMOTHY: Oil slick drift modelNOAA: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationONF: French National Foresty Offi ce

Printed on ecological paper at the Météo-France Printing Office D2C/IMP,

labeled Imprim’vert

OPTIMA: Tool providing information on a combination of road traffic and weather conditions PALUCLIM: Impacts of climate factors on the production of malaria vectors in rural areas of the Sahel and adaptation strategiesPERLE: Local effluent emissions evaluation programmePNACC: French National Climate Change Adaptation Plan Change Adaptation PlanPREV’AIR: Air quality forecasting system

QUANTIFY: European project aimed atQuantifying the Climat Impact of GlobalSESAR: Single European Sky Air traffic management ResearchSIMET: Environmental gain analysis project linked to better consideration of weather parameters in the calculation of air travel trajectoriesSPSI: Multiannual Real Estate Strategy PlanUV: UltravioletWMO: World Meteorological Organisation

GLOSSARy OF INITIALS, ACRONyMS ANd ABBREVIATIONS

Sustainable developmentReport 2010

SustainabledevelopmentReport 2010

Météo-France is certifi ed to ISO 9001by Bureau Veritas Certifi cation

© Météo-France 2011Copyright April 2011ISSN: 2114-4532

Layout Monique Chaba, Maryse TouchéPrinted by D2C/IMP, Direction commercialeet de la communication de Météo-France.

Credit for the photographs on the cover Jean-Pierre Céron, CNRS, Météo-France/Pascal Taburet,

Météo-France.

Météo-France1, quai Branly75340 Paris Cedex 7France

Phone: +33 1 45 56 71 71Fax: +33 1 45 56 71 11

After november 2011:

73 avenue de Paris94160 Saint-MandéFrance

Phone: +33 1 77 94 77 94Fax: +33 1 77 94 71 11

www.meteofrance.com

Documents

Sustainable Development Reportfiles.meteofrance.com/files/guides/25431-48.pdf · OPTIMA output on 12/01/2010 at 16:30. A snow episode (in blue) moves across France. Behind it, rain