The main research goals and objectives of the proposed project proposal are to study the transport (migration) of aeolian dust in the Caucasus (Georgia) and its impact on some risky phenomena (droughts, local convection, glaciers melting processes) using modern scientific methods and technologies, amid the regional climate change. To achieve this goal, the project is split into a number of scientific and technical tasks with their own operational goals, which consist of closely related research tasks. The project explores certain aspects and characteristics inherent in risk events against the backdrop of climate change in Georgia, with an appropriate research methodology with the goals and objectives of the study, using information and research methods from statistical to model. The research methodology that will be used in the planned research is to use modern General Circulation Model (GCM), the Weather Research and Forecasting model with online coupled chemistry and dust module (WRF Chem/Dust) and the Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) models, together with the satellite products Cloud Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO) and the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) to study penetration of aeolian dust into the Caucasus from deserts and its impact on some climatic systems. The Weather Research and Forecasting climate model (WRF/Climate) and regional climate modeling system (RegCM) models are used to study regional climate varieties in Georgia. The Regional Climate Model Evolution System (RCMES) will be used to simplify the evaluation process of jointly using observational and/or model datasets by basic statistical metrics, data manipulation and visualization capabilities. Glacier research involves using an open source Python glacier model (OSGG-https: //oggm.org/) with satellite products the Global Positioning System (GPS), MODIS, CALIPSO and Global Land Ice Measurements from Space (GLIMS) for glacier monitoring. Also Photovoltaic Geographical Information System (PV GIS), which provides high-quality and high-spatial and temporal resolution data of solar radiation obtained from satellite images, as well as ambient temperature and wind speed from climate reanalysis models. The Representative Concentration Path (RCP) adopted by the IPCC will be used in numerical models to model a possible climate change scenario up to 2100. Such a research methodology will allow studying the fluctuations of Georgian glaciers and predicting their melting due to climate warming. This project aims to develop a forecasting approach using the WRF model, Real-time Environment Application and Display System (READY) and meteorological radar to study the thermodynamic state of the atmosphere, taking into account the influence of dust and difficult terrain in Georgia. In general, such a modern research methodology, including modeling based on modern satellite and field observation data, is fully consistent with the goals and objectives of the project and allows to fully study the tasks of the project.

Project members:

• Teimurazi Davitashvili (Principal Investigator)

• Inga Samkharadze (Coordinator)

• Zurab Modebadze (Key Personnel)

• Oleg Kharshiladze (Key Personnel)