This illustration shows society represented by a pyramid, the base of which represents sustainable development. The apex represents an early warning sentinel. Its function is to protect society from harm due to natural hazards. This suggests that early warning systems (EWSs) have the role of identifying protential problems. Sustainable development prospects of a society are highly dependent on the effectiveness of its various early warning systems.
Priority 2: Building Capacity for Coping with Weather and Climate Hazards
Climate Change, Seasonality and Environmental Hazards
Background and Progress
For many years, NCAR researchers have studied early warning systems (e.g., those used to warn of drought, famine, El Nino, etc.). In 2006 NCAR's Center for Capacity Building (CCB) convened a workshop entitled, “Climate Change, Seasonality, and Environmental Hazards in Southeast Asia” in Bangkok, Thailand. The workshop focused on creating awareness of the importance to governments and individuals of climate, water, and weather-related early warning systems. The goal of the workshop was to emphasize the need to maintain awareness in each of a system's stages, from monitoring indicators of change to the production and issuance of warnings. This work was funded by the National Science Foundation, the Asia Pacific Network for Global Change Research, the UN University's International Network on Water, Environment, and Health (INWEH), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Plans
CCB will produce a book on early warning systems for distribution at the UN World Meteorological Organization (WMO) International Conference on "Secure and Sustainable Living: Social and Economic Benefits of Weather, Climate, and Water Services," to be held in Madrid, Spain, in March 2007. The National Science Foundation continues to fund this research.
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