Drought monitoring portal banner sri lanka

Projects

This portal follows projects on drought that was executed by FECT with partners and which was supported by the US National Academy of Science and USAID. Some information on the drought is presented here with links for further information.

Project Duration: 2014-2017

Summary : Scientists from the Foundation for Environment, Climate and Technology, Maldives National University, Columbia University are working with others in Universities, Water Supply and Meteorological Services to develop monitoring and predictive tools for drought risk and to address a riddle in climate change projections which predict a wetter climate although what has been experienced is sustained drying. This project is sponsored under the PEER program of the US National Academy of Sciences and USAID program in Sri Lanka and Maldives.

Investigators

Principal Investigator: Dr.Lareef Zubair (FECT)

Co-Principal Investigator: Dr. Mizna Mohamed (MNU)

Project Briefs

Climate and drought project flyer

Summary of Recent Activities:

Goals:
To develop operational state of the art drought assessments using climate information, and to assess the climate change impacts on drought risk in Sri Lanka and the Maldives more reliably in the next decades.

Objectives

  • Developing Drought hazard analysis and monitoring.
  • Develop Assessment of near-term climate change.
  • Undertake Drought and water scarcity projections for selected locations.
  • Improve hydro-climatic advisories prepared by FECT for Dissemination and outreach including analysis of climate information by disaster experts.
  • Capacity building through improving research infrastructure and training for research students.

Anticipated Development Outcomes:

  1. Gains from improved water and drought risk management and policy making.
  2. Demonstration in generation and use of climate information for disaster risk management.
  3. The provision of near-term climate change projections.
  4. Development of expertise in application of drought and near-term climate change information.
  5. Training on interpretation for key experts and undergraduates.

I. Climate Analysis and Tools-Progress

  • Developed tools for rainfall monitoring from Satellite data.
  • Compilation of climate predictions.
  • Ongoing weekly & monthly dissemination of climate reports.
  • Developed tools for drought monitoring.

II. Drought Risk Assessment

  • Estimating water scarcity in Greater Male’ Maldives.
  • Data analysis on disasters in Sri Lanka.
  • Seasonal climate reports for Sri Lanka.
  • Pinga Oya floods & environment assessment.

III. Scientific Conferences & Publications

  • Conference contribution.
  • Book publications.
  • Journal publications.
  • Pinga Oya symposium proceedings.

IV. Dissemination and Training

  • Training of junior scientists.
  • Contribution to University education.
  • Web & social media dissemination of products.
  • Workshops, Media outreach