Dear NA VFSP-WAS WG3 Team, This is a friendly reminder of our upcoming WG3 meeting next Tuesday. If you had intended to contribute to revising or improving the draft planning document for the 2026 Smoke Forecast Verification Metrics, now would be a great time to do so. Your input, whether detailed edits or general feedback, is very valuable as we move forward. WG3_Plans_2026 - Google Docs<https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NM_tiB6HnLbd5w4V_NC-zakQmBdkV... We would also like to extend a sincere thank you to Mark for his contribution to the document. For our meeting, we are planning to discuss and potentially revise our priorities for 2026. In particular, we may focus on developing a first draft of the evaluation website, starting with the use of AirNow surface data (PM2.5 and PM10) for operational evaluation. Defining smoke plumes would also be prioritized, so that analyses can be done on the full dataset and in smoke plumes only. Other identified items may be postponed to 2027, but we look forward to discussing this together and aligning on priorities during Tuesday's meeting. Thank you all, and looking forward to our discussion! Ivana and Becky NA VFSP-WAS Evaluation Working Group (WG3) From: Popadic,Ivana (ECCC) <ivana.popadic@ec.gc.ca<mailto:ivana.popadic@ec.gc.ca>> Sent: Friday, February 20, 2026 4:52 PM To: na-rvfsp-wac-wg3@comm.collab.science.gc.ca<mailto:na-rvfsp-wac-wg3@comm.collab.science.gc.ca> Subject: [Na-rvfsp-wac-wg3] NA VFSP-WAS : Request for feedback on WG3 2026 Smoke Forecast Metrics Document Dear WG3 Team, As you may know, draft planning document for the 2026 Smoke Forecast Verification Metrics is ready for your review and improvement. WG3_Plans_2026 - Google Docs<https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NM_tiB6HnLbd5w4V_NC-zakQmBdkV... Please request access if you don't have permissions to comment on the document. We are seeking volunteers to help revise/improve the following key sections highlighted in yellow in the document: * Satellite AOD Observations: Identify which satellite AOD observations to use first. (Would anyone like to help look into this further?) * Observational Networks for Vertical Columns: Explore potential networks that can provide vertical column evaluation. (Would anyone like to help look into this further?) * Other Data Integration: Investigate important future datasets, such as additional AOD data sources, AERONET, CO from IAGOS, lidar/ceilometer fields, campaign data, and satellite aerosol layer heights (incl. TEMPO). (Would anyone like to help look into this further?) * Defining Smoke Plumes: Conduct a brief literature review to determine how best to deal with varying model backgrounds and plume locations. (Would anyone like to help look into this further?) * Other Evaluation Websites: Review and suggest other model evaluation websites within WMO and the broader atmospheric composition community to learn from. (Would anyone like to help look into this further?) * Potential Tools: Investigate and propose additional tools for model evaluation (beyond MELODIES MONET and V-Profiles). (Would anyone like to help look into this further?) We believe that if you are familiar with any of these areas, it won't require a significant time commitment, they may be topics you already know very well, just not yet written down. We understand that this is a side project for all of us, and do not wish to burden anyone; we hope the contributions are manageable and meaningful. In addition, we encourage everyone on this mailing list to read the short document and give feedback. Even a simple reply indicating approval, or whether you feel we're headed in the right (or wrong) direction, would be greatly appreciated. Please send your comments or volunteer for a section by the end of March. Thank you all for your time and contributions! Ivana and Rebecca NA VFSP-WAS Evaluation Working Group (WG3)