Examples of NASA’s Water Resources Capacity Building

Initiatives

Ted Engman

Extending the societal and economic benefits of Earth science research, information, and technology …

NASA APPLIED SCIENCES PROGRAMNASA APPLIED SCIENCES PROGRAM

SERVIR:The Mesoamerican

Regional Visualization and Monitoring System

for Environmental Management and Disaster

Support

SERVIR REGIONALOPERATIONAL

FACILITYat

CATHALAC

Short TermWeather

Prediction

Climate ChangeModeling

IT andVisualization

Land Cover/Land UseChange

Fires

Coastal Studies/Coral Reefs

FloodingRapid

Response

Other

GUATEMALA BELIZEEL

SALVADORHONDURAS

NICARAGUACOSTARICA

PANAMA MEXICO

CCAD/SIAM

In HouseCapabilities

Plug-InCapabilities

SERVIR Framework

NASA Test Bed

SERVIR Network

Implementing Agencies

Environmental Ministries

US Government

NGOs/Non-Profits

UniversitiesInstitutes Associations

Business/Industry

Other: Disaster Charter (CONAE), CENAT, etc.

SERVIR Africa

• Recently selected for funding from ROSES 2007• U.S. Agency for International Development (AID) is a

partner• African Regional Center for Mapping of Resources for

Development (RCMRD) in Kenya is a partner• Coordinate this project with the operational SERVIR

team at the CATHALAC facility in Panama• Architecture for the SERVIR Africa will be modular to

allow future expansion to SERVIR nodes in other areas of the continent

NASA Applied Sciences Program

SERVIR Africa

• The primary application areas will be flooding

Adapt the existing NASA GSFC Global Hazard Model - Flood (Adler)

• The secondary application area will be Rift Valley Fever

Adapt the existing NASA GSFC Infectious Disease Ecoclimatic Link algorithm (Tucker)

• Use data from multiple NASA missions including SRTM, AMSR-E, TRMM, MODIS, etc.

NASA Applied Sciences Program

Goal: combine local observations and parameters with NASA technology and advanced hydrological modeling expertise and capabilities to improve Global and SA NWP, climate and water management through collaboration with various centers (government, universities and research institutes)

•Missions•Land Information System

NASA•Local resources (observations)•Human Resources•Central to South America

CPTEC

SALDAS

REGIONALWeather and ClimateWater Management

GLDASHydromet Databanks OUTREACH

South American Land Data Assimilation System (SALDAS) South American Land Data Assimilation System (SALDAS) NASA & CPTEC (“Centers for Weather & Climate Predictions”)NASA & CPTEC (“Centers for Weather & Climate Predictions”)

SALDAS Interaction with SALDAS Interaction with the Center for Weather Forecasts and Climate the Center for Weather Forecasts and Climate Studies (CPTEC) of the National Institute for Space Research (INPE)Studies (CPTEC) of the National Institute for Space Research (INPE)

CPTEC/ETA Regional Reanalysis

CPTEC/GOES based SW radiation (4Km, 30 min)

GSFC/TRMM Precipitation3B42RT +local observations

SALDAS Atmospheric ForcingRetrospective: 2000-2004

Near real time: 2002-present1/8 deg; 3-hourly

NASA/LIS Land Information SystemNOAH,SSiB,SIB2,CLM

LSM states used at CPTEC for regional weather and climate

studies

High resolution output potential use for water and disaster management in

Latin America

La Plata Basin (LPB)La Plata Basin (LPB) Regional Hydroclimate ProjectRegional Hydroclimate Project

E. Hugo Berbery, co-chair for CLIVARE. Hugo Berbery, co-chair for CLIVARM. Assuncao Silva Dias, co-chair forM. Assuncao Silva Dias, co-chair for GEWEX GEWEX

FloodsLand cover/Land use changes Biomas Burning

LPB’s web site: http://www.eol.ucar.edu/projects/lpb

NDVI changes 1980-2000

Evaluation and assimilation of NASA’s remote sensing products in support of

science activitiesin the La Plata Basin

Overall hypothesis“Incorporating high quality observations of surface conditions from

NASA satellites and other observing systems into numerical models of La Plata basin will improve predictability of the region's hydrology, weather and climate”

Specific Objectives

• Develop a multivariable dataset of in-situ observations that can be employed for satellite evaluation over the La Plata Basin.

• Validate remotely sensed satellite products with the in-situ observations.

• Assimilate and generate a dataset of land surface products that can be employed for predictability studies.

• Perform studies of the influence of land surface conditions on the predictability of the La Plata Basin.

NASA Water Resourses Program Capacity Building Activities for Latin

America “Initiate capacity building programs to develop tools for

using remote sensing data in support of water management, and to show the value of Earth observations generally in water resource management. The program will be initiated in Latin America”

The NASA Water Resourses Program may assist with LPB activities. This may include:

1) Assist with workshop support including the training of students;

2) Assist with access and application of NASA satellite and modeling products; and

3) Travel support to meetings including visits to the US.

Hydrology for the Environment, Life and Policy

HELP provides a framework within catchments for scientists, stakeholders, managers, law and policy experts to come together to address locally defined “water related issues”. HELP provides a platform for sharing experiences across an international

network of catchments

Real people Real catchments Real answers

HELP Global Network

Grand ChallengesWater Resources Related

• The Office of Science Technology and Policy set forth guidance for future U. S. investments in Disaster Reduction

• 6 Grand Challenges were listed: Provide Disaster Information; Understand Natural Processes; Develop Hazard Mitigation Strategies; Recognize and Reduce vulnerability; Assess Disaster Resilience; Promote Risk Wise Behavior

• Drought and Flood were listed at important areas needing attention

• Recommendations included improved risk maps, social science attention, and understanding land use cumulative impacts.

• For more information go to http://www.sdr.gov