An Overview of AAAS/UCAR Africa Initiative Thorpex African Scientific Planning Meeting 10-12 February 2007 Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso Raj PANDYA University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
Who are we AAAS, American Association for the Advancement of Science Represents all branches of US science Publishes the Journal Science UCAR, University Corporation for Atmospheric Science Manages the National Center for Atmospheric Research and related programs Managed by 70 member universities
Thanks to Mohan Ramamurthy Arlene Laing Mel Shapiro Ben Lamptey Tom Warner Tim Spangler Bob Roesch Rick Anthes Roberta Johnson Mitch Moncrief Pat Parish Marianne Weingrof Rebecca Boger Roelof Bruintjes Tom Yoksas Bill Kuo Peter Backlund Mickey Glantz
AI Science Goal Increase knowledge of the role of African weather, climate, and biogeochemical processes in the Earth system Average Elevation (km) 0º 20ºN 1.5 1.0
AI Capacity Goal Enhance the capacity for atmospheric research in Africa by investing in sustainable infrastructure and education
AI Societal Goal Develop research applications, operational systems, and dissemination strategies to improve lives in Africa
Africa Initiative Ideals African Solutions to African Issus Collaboration with African NMHS s and Universities A priority on research applications with direct societal benefit Demonstrable value from meteorological research and operations Long-term capacity building, education and research in the atmospheric and related sciences Leverage existing networks and infrastructure Explore Earth science research themes that are critical to Africa and important for the world
Steps Identify and prioritize themes addressing local needs & global questions African Universities, National Metrological & Hydrological Services (NMHS), and African Science Organizations UCAR, Universities (e.g. Penn State, Howard), International Science Projects (AMMA, Thorpex), US Agencies (NOAA), WMO Research for applications around these priorities Funding from partners focused on societal impact World Bank, WHO, Gates Foundation Implementation by African NMHSs & Universities, with support from UCAR community Develop dissemination mechanisms with partners specializing in communicating with diverse stakeholders AAAS, MS Virtual Earth,
A Partnership Template A US Network Collaborates with To Produce For Use by UCAR NOAA African Universities Applications Research New Met Tools (WRF, Radar) Extension Agents NGO s that use Wx American Universities African NMHS New Operational Products Commercial Partners WMO, Thorpex, AMMA Source of Capital For the Benefit of African People
Pilot projects focused on West Africa UCAR will contribute funds to three pilot efforts: 1. Enhanced Modeling Capacity: WRF in Ghana 2. Educational Opportunities: April Workshop in Ouagadougou 3. Enhanced Observational Capacity: Radar network in West Africa
i. AAAS-UCAR African Scholars Program Support for 20 African Post-docs a year to do research at UCAR, UCAR Universities, NOAA $100K per Post-doc in startup funds to support return to Africa Development of African Network of Scientist Sabbatical support for US scientists to work in Africa Not Yet Funded
1. April Workshop 2-6 April, in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso Burkina Faso, Mali Met. Service, and UCAR are hosting Hands-on, Discussion-oriented format Opportunity to introduce UCAR activities and groundtruthing for AI activities
1. Radar Network Project Lead: Roelof Bruintjes Radars in Mali, Burkina Faso upgraded with NCAR receiver and analyses software Network Mali and Burkina Faso radars - expand to Niger and Senegal radars? Stream data to UNIDATA for collaborative scientific analysis Training in the calibration and maintenance of the radars and software packages
Real-time data Bamako, Mali http://www.rap.ucar.edu/projects/westafrica/bamakorada rdata/images/bamakodbz/cp_bamakodbz_bamako_ 20061003163600.png
2. Sahel Workshop Project Leads: Roelof Bruintjes and Raj Pandya African meteorologists identify UCAR tools and activities relevant to African needs Identify possibilities to leverage existing infrastructure Define long-term collaborations and short-term successes Hands-on, discussion-oriented format 2-6 April, at the CILLS Conference Center in Ouagadougou
3. WRF in West Africa Project Leads: Ben Lamptey and Tom Warner Establish operational mesoscale forecasting system at NCAR; provide products to African weather services. D1 Improve model and interface in collaboration with African forecasters D2 Conduct a workshop for forecasters, in Accra, on effective use of highresolution meteorological-model products. Ultimately, move the model to Ghana
COSMIC WWW stations showing reporting rates. Feom BAMS Oct. 2006 African Climate Change. GPS Radio Occultation Soundings in a 24 hour period
COMET Over 350 hours of computer-based distance learning created for 30,000 users world-wide Could support collaborative development of case studies supported by resouces.
Unidata Software and tools to analyze and distribute realtime data Data and Software are free, and data rates can be configured Initial prototype using Unidata to stream radar data in W. Africa was successful.
Students collaborate with scientists Hands-on science Atmosphere/Climate Hydrology Soil Land Cover/Biology Phenology International Program in 100+ countries Over 15 million environmental measurements taken Rebecca Boger
Other Ideas Rain gauge network for ground-truthing, rural involvement Successful effort in Senegal as part of AMMA Collaborative studies of African convection Conversations with Microsoft on delivery of weather data via cell phones
www.africa.ucar.edu The University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) has capabilities in a range of Earth-related disciplines With African and US partners, can help African scientists and meteorologists address weatherrelated societal and scientific challenges We seek to partner with an established presence in Africa which could take immediate advantage of this enhanced capacity