Topics


![]()
![]()
Monitoring land cover dynamics in Sub-Saharan Africa : a Pilot Study using Earth Observing Satellite Data from 1975 and 2000
human welfare (Foley et al. 2005). In many developing countries populations are heavily dependant on freshwater, forests croplands and fisheries (Homer-Dixon and Blitt 1998) to which we should add pastures. Shortages in these sectors can give rise to increased poverty, environmental refugees (Jacobson, 1988) and even conflict. Some authorities have even suggested a new age of insecurity (HomerDixon, 1991 ), the so-called “neo-Malthusian” theory. There is a growing body of literature on environmental scarcity and conflict (Raleigh and Urdal, 2005, Urdal, 2005) which reflects not only cur ...
Monitoring land cover dynamics in Sub-Saharan Africa: a Pilot Study using Earth Observing Satellite Data from 1975 and 2000
![]()
![]()
Available online: http://www.carboafrica.net/downs/pubs/Land%20Cover%20Dynamics%20in%20Africa_Eva% [...]
H.D. Eva ; A. Brink ; D. Simonetti ; Institute for Environment and Sustainability
Published by: European Commission ; 2006human welfare (Foley et al. 2005). In many developing countries populations are heavily dependant on freshwater, forests croplands and fisheries (Homer-Dixon and Blitt 1998) to which we should add pastures. Shortages in these sectors can give rise to increased poverty, environmental refugees (Jacobson, 1988) and even conflict. Some authorities have even suggested a new age of insecurity (HomerDixon, 1991 ), the so-called “neo-Malthusian” theory. There is a growing body of literature on environmental scarcity and conflict (Raleigh and Urdal, 2005, Urdal, 2005) which reflects not only current concerns but that of future scenarios based on climate change prediction and its subsequent impact on water resources, land degradation and food production. Just how much land cover change has occurred over the last 25 years is not entirely clear – as reliable statistics are hard to come by (see section 1.3). Our study aims to use an independent method to quantify the areal extent of four broad land cover classes: forests, natural non-forest vegetation, agriculture and barren areas, at two key dates 1975 and 2000. We hope to demonstrate that such an approach can give consistent and repeatable results for natural resource assessment, valid at sub continental levels, and propose improvements to the methodology. Due to the limited availability of satellite data our study does not cover ‘desertification’ processes, which require multi-temporal analysis so as to remove possible seasonal and inter-annual effects.
Language(s): English
Format: Digital (Free), Hard copy (ill., charts, maps)Tags: Observations ; Flora ; Desertification control ; Arab countries ; Region I - Africa
Add tag
No review, please log in to add yours !
![]()
![]()
Improved seasonal climate forecasts of the South Asian summer monsoon using a suite of 13 coupled ocean-atmosphere models
Several modeling studies have shown that the south Asian monsoon region has the lowest skill for seasonal forecasts compared with many other domains of the world. This paper demonstrates that a multimodel synthetic superensemble approach, when constructed with any set of coupled atmosphere-ocean models, can provide improved skill in seasonal climate prediction compared with single-member models or their ensemble mean for the south Asian summer monsoon region. However, performance of the superensemble tends to improve when a better set of input member models are used. As many as 13 state-of-the ...
Improved seasonal climate forecasts of the South Asian summer monsoon using a suite of 13 coupled ocean-atmosphere models
![]()
![]()
Available online: http://www.mmm.ucar.edu/events/indo_us/PDFs/0701_Krishnamurti_NCAR05.pdf
Arindam Chakraborty ; T.N. Krishnamurti ; Florida State University (United States)
Published by: FSU ; 2006Several modeling studies have shown that the south Asian monsoon region has the lowest skill for seasonal forecasts compared with many other domains of the world. This paper demonstrates that a multimodel synthetic superensemble approach, when constructed with any set of coupled atmosphere-ocean models, can provide improved skill in seasonal climate prediction compared with single-member models or their ensemble mean for the south Asian summer monsoon region. However, performance of the superensemble tends to improve when a better set of input member models are used. As many as 13 state-of-the-art coupled atmosphere-ocean models were used in the synthetic superensemble algorithm. The merit of this technique lies in assigning differential weights to the member models. The rms errors, anomaly correlations, case studies of extreme events, and probabilistic skill scores are used here to assess these forecast skills. It was found that over the south Asian region the seasonal forecasts from the superensemble are, in general, superior to the forecasts of the individual member models, and their bias-removed ensemble mean at a significance level of 95% or more (based on a Student's t test) during the 13 yr of forecasts. Moreover, the skill of the superensemble was found to be better than those of the ensemble mean over smaller domains as well as during extreme events that were monitored, especially during the switch on and off of the Indian Ocean dipole, which seems to modulate the Indian monsoon rainfall. The results of this paper suggest that the superensemble provides somewhat consistent forecasts on the seasonal time scale. This methodology needs to be tested for real-time seasonal climate forecasting over the south Asian region.
Language(s): English
Format: Digital (Free) (ill., charts, maps)Tags: Oceans ; Seasonal forecast ; Monsoon ; National Meteorological and Hydrological Service (NMHS) ; Coupled atmosphere/ocean models ; South East Asia
Add tag
No review, please log in to add yours !
![]()
![]()
VOLTA-HYCOS Project, Sub-component of the AOC-Hycos Project : Project document
This document presents the framework for the implementation of the hydrological observing system of the Volta River Basin, called Volta-HYCOS. It was prepared on the basis of a draft document written in 2003 by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), with the assistance of IRD (French Institute of Research and Development) under the new strategy adopted by the WMO to execute the West and Central Africa AOC) – HYCOS project in components corresponding to large river basins in the sub-region.
![]()
Available online: Full text
Published by: WMO ; 2006
This document presents the framework for the implementation of the hydrological observing system of the Volta River Basin, called Volta-HYCOS. It was prepared on the basis of a draft document written in 2003 by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), with the assistance of IRD (French Institute of Research and Development) under the new strategy adopted by the WMO to execute the West and Central Africa AOC) – HYCOS project in components corresponding to large river basins in the sub-region.
Language(s): English; Other Languages: French
Format: Digital (Free)Tags: World Hydrological Cycle Observing System (WHYCOS) ; Region I - Africa ; West Africa ; Central Africa ; Hydrological cycle ; Volta-HYCOS
Add tag
Translated under the titleNo review, please log in to add yours !
![]()
![]()
GCOS, 106. Report of the GCOS Regional Workshop for the Mediterranean Basin on Improving Observing Systems for Climate
World Meteorological Organization (WMO) ; United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP); Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC); et al. - WMO, 2006 (WMO/TD-No. 1337)
Report of the GCOS Regional Workshop for the Mediterranean Basin on Improving Observing Systems for Climate
![]()
![]()
Available online: Full text
World Meteorological Organization (WMO) ; United Nations Environment Programme ; Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission ; Global Environment Facility ; United Nations Environment Programme
Published by: WMO, IOC ; 2006Collection(s) and Series: WMO/TD- No. 1337; GCOS- No. 106
Language(s): English; Other Languages: French
Format: Digital (Free), Hard copyTags: Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) ; Capacity development ; Region VI - Europe ; Mediterranean Sea ; North Africa ; Region I - Africa
Add tag
No review, please log in to add yours !
![]()
![]()
Up in smoke? Latin America and the Caribbean the threat from climate change to the environment and human development
New Economics Foundation, 2006This report is an in depth analysis of the impacts of changes wrought by climate change and anthropogenic factors in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) and the responses of the communities, organisations and governments to these changes. Data on the economic and social impact of climate associated natural disasters such as hurricanes and droughts is presented for countries affected. Besides the negative impacts however, numerous case studies are shared in which local success stories are demonstrated. The overall theme of the document is one of adaptation with strong emphasis on the need for ...
Up in smoke? Latin America and the Caribbean the threat from climate change to the environment and human development
![]()
![]()
Available online: http://www.panda.org/downloads/upinsmoke_lac.pdf
Published by: New Economics Foundation ; 2006
This report is an in depth analysis of the impacts of changes wrought by climate change and anthropogenic factors in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) and the responses of the communities, organisations and governments to these changes. Data on the economic and social impact of climate associated natural disasters such as hurricanes and droughts is presented for countries affected. Besides the negative impacts however, numerous case studies are shared in which local success stories are demonstrated. The overall theme of the document is one of adaptation with strong emphasis on the need for developed countries to accept responsibility for their actions while also assisting developing nations in these adaptation efforts.
Language(s): English
Format: Digital (Free)Tags: Climate ; Climate change ; Environment and landscape ; Social and Economic development ; Adaptation ; Latin America ; Caribbean ; Region IV - North America, Central America and the Caribbean
Add tag
No review, please log in to add yours !
![]()
![]()
![]()
Effects of climate change in developing countries : latest science from the Hadley Centre
Future climate change will affect water supplies and food production. There will also be a wide range of other impacts, such as coastal flooding, increased heat related mortality, and loss of important ecosystems. In this report we present several new results.
PermalinkPermalink![]()
![]()
![]()
Making integrated flood management : part of the development agenda
World Meteorological Organization (WMO) ; Global Water Partnership (GWP); Associated Programme on Flood Management (APFM) - WMO, 2006Our planet’s water resources are vital for sustainable development. Floods play a major role in replenishing freshwater resources, recharging wetlands and groundwater and supporting agriculture and fishery systems, thereby making flood plains preferred areas for human settlement and various economic activities. Flood plains are subjected to periodic inundation by the smaller and more frequent floods that also provide nutrition to fertile agricultural lands, supporting livelihoods of riparian communities. Occasionally, however, floods have negative impacts on lives, livelihoods and economic act ...
Permalink![]()
![]()
![]()
AGM, 09. Strengthening Operational Agrometeorological Services at the National Level : proceedings
World Meteorological Organization (WMO) ; Motha Raymond P.; Sivakumar Mannava V.K.; et al. - WMO, 2006 (WMO/TD-No. 1277)
Permalink![]()
![]()
![]()
Projet Volta-HYCOS s/composante du projet AOC-HYCOS : Project document
Le présent document présente le cadre de mise en oeuvre du projet Volta-HYCOS, Système d’observation hydrologique du bassin de la Volta. Ce document a été élaboré sur la base du document de projet provisoire préparé en 2003 par l’Organisation Mondiale de la Météo (OMM) avec l’assistance technique de l’Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), selon la nouvelle stratégie adoptée par l’OMM de développement du projet AOC-HYCOS (Afrique de l’Ouest et Centrale) par grands bassins versants.
Permalink![]()
![]()
![]()
N°27 - Juillet 2005 - Aéronautique: les transports aériens
is an issue of Atmosphériques. Météo France, 2005
Permalink![]()
![]()
![]()
GCOS, 97. Report of the GCOS Regional Workshop for South and Southwest Asia on Improving Observing Systems for Climate
World Meteorological Organization (WMO) ; United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP); Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC); et al. - WMO, 2005 (WMO/TD-No. 1259)
Permalink![]()
![]()
![]()
GCOS, 94. Report of the GCOS Regional Workshop for Central Asia on Improving Observing Systems for Climate
World Meteorological Organization (WMO) ; United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP); International Council for Science (ICSU); et al. - WMO, 2005 (WMO/TD-No. 1248)
Permalink![]()
![]()
![]()
GCOS, 100. Report of the GCOS Regional Workshop for Eastern and Central Europe on Improving Observing Systems for Climate.
World Meteorological Organization (WMO) ; United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP); Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC); et al. - WMO, 2005 (WMO/TD-No. 1283)
Permalink![]()
![]()
![]()
The Aral Sea: Water, Climate and Enviromnental Change in Central Asia
The situation in and around the Aral Sea is one of the worst human-made environmental crises of the 20th century. This book reveals the history behind this slow-onset, creeping environmental problem and hopes to help prevent similar situations in future.
PermalinkPermalink![]()
![]()
![]()
ГСНК, 94. Отчет регионального семинара ГСНК для центральной азии по улучшению систем наблюдений за климатом
Всемирная Метеорологическая Организация (BMO); Программа ООН по окружающей среде (ЮНЕП); Международного совета по науке (ICSU); et al. - BMO, 2005 (ВMO/TД-No. 1248)
PermalinkPermalinkPermalink![]()
![]()
![]()
Agricultural Meteorology Programme (AgMP), 95. User Requirements for Satellite and Other Remote-Sensing Information in the Field of Agricultural Meteorology
World Meteorological Organization (WMO) ; Diagne G.B.; Labo M.; et al. - WMO, 2004 (WMO/TD-No. 1230)This report presents the current remote sensing technology that is applicable to the field of agricultural meteorology. The information presented is applicable for monitoring and assessment of agricultural crops and grasslands and their impact on agricultural production at regional and national levels. The remote sensing technology is accessible to both developed and developing countries and the cost for acquiring the imageries and data from orbiting and geostationary satellite systems have been reduced over the past decade. Some of the imagery is now available without cost to the global user ...
Permalink![]()
![]()
![]()
Guidelines strategic planning and management of water resources
United Nations, 2004At its nineteenth special session in 1997, the General Assembly called for the initiation of a strategic approach for the implementation of all aspects of the sustainable use of fresh water for social and economic purposes, including safe drinking water and sanitation, water for irrigation, recycling, and wastewater management, and the important role fresh water plays in natural ecosystems. Since then, the promotion and development of strategic planning and management methodologies of water resources have become a major focus of regional cooperation in the programme of work of ESCAP. In that c ...
PermalinkPermalink![]()
![]()
![]()
GCOS, 85. Rapport de l’atelier régional sur le Système Mondial d’Observation du Climat en Afrique Occidentale et Centrale
Organisation météorologique mondiale (OMM); Programme des Nations Unies pour l'environnement (PNUE); Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC); et al. - OMM, 2003
Permalink![]()
![]()
![]()
Statement at the Sixth Meeting of the Directors of Meteorological Services of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Member States
Obasi G.O.P; World Meteorological Organization (WMO) - WMO, 2003 (SG's lectures, speeches, statements-No. 203)
Permalink![]()
![]()
![]()
GCOS, 85. Report of the GCOS Regional Workshop for Western and Central Africa on Improving Observing Systems for Climate
World Meteorological Organization (WMO) ; United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP); Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC); et al. - WMO, 2003 (WMO/TD-No. 1167)
Permalink