page_title: Servicio Meteorológico Nacional (Argentina)
section_title: Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre
hierarchical_section_title: Servicio Meteorológico Nacional (Argentina) / Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre
caption_attribution_description: English: Map showing the coverage of the nine worldwide Volcanic Ash Advisory Centers
context_page_description: The Servicio Meteorológico Nacional is Argentina's national weather service under the Ministry of Defense that is tasked with observing, understanding, and predicting the weather and climate in Argentina and its surrounding waters. It provides weather forecasts, radar images, ozone, temperature and rainfall graphs, and satellite images. The purpose of these tasks is to contribute to protection of its inhabitants, sustainable economic development and to provide representation of Argentina to international meteorological organizations. Founded on 4 October 1872 by Federal law Nº559 during the presidency of Domingo Faustino Sarmiento, the organisation was the first meteorological organisation in South America and the third one in the world, after Hungary and the United States which were created in 1870 and 1871 respectively. It became a member of the World Meteorological Organization on 2 January 1951. Throughout its history, the organisation was dependent under different government ministries until in 2007 when it is currently under the Ministry of Defense.
context_section_description: There are 9 Volcanic Ash Advisory Centres (VAAC for short) around the world that are responsible for monitoring volcanic ash to provide critical information and maintain aviation safety. SMN is responsible for the Buenos Aires VAAC, which covers all areas from longitudes 90oW to 10ᵒW and latitudes 10ᵒS to 90ᵒS. VAACs are designated regional meteorological centres that are tasked with observing the movement of volcanic ash into the atmosphere during volcanic eruptions. The functions and responsibilities of the Buneos Aires VAAC are listed below:
  Examine data from geostationary and polar orbit satellites to detect the existence and extent of any volcanic ash in the atmosphere.
  Create computer simulations to model the trajectory of volcanic ash to predict the movement of ash clouds when the volcanic ash has been detected.
  Issue advisory information with respect to the extent and forecasted movement of volcanic ash clouds to Meteorological Watch Offices (MWO), Area control centres, and Flight information service centres that are service Flight information regions affected by the volcanic ash.
  Issue advisory information with respect to the extent and forecasted movement of volcanic ash clouds to other VAACs under their areas that they cover.
  Issue advisory information with respect to the extent and forcasted movement of volcanic ash clouds to World Area Forecast Centres (WAFC), the relevant regional forecast centres, and international data banks OPMET.
  Issue advisory information to meteorological offices, area control centres, flight information regions, and other VAACs when necessary every 6 hours at a minimum until no more volcanic ash clouds can be detected based on sateilite data or when no more new notices about volcanic eruptions or when the VAAC does not receive any more new information regarding volcanic ash clouds in the area.
caption: Coverage of the nine VAAC
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