needs and requirements for meteorological and climate information in support to humanitarian...
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NEEDS AND REQUIREMENTS FOR METEOROLOGICAL AND CLIMATE INFORMATION IN SUPPORT TO HUMANITARIAN AGENCIES –
CBS (DPFS/PWS) Task Team on the Provision of Operational Meteorological Assistance to Humanitarian Agencies
July 2013
Jennifer Milton
Content• Background• Consultation process 2012-2013• Summary of consultative results• Summary of needs• Observations and opportunities
Background
• Consultations 2009-2012:• Working-level Brainstorming Session on ‘Meteorological Services
for Improved Humanitarian Contingency Planning and Response’ – 17 April 2009
• Meeting of the Task Team on ‘Meteorological Services for Improved Humanitarian Planning and Response’ – 31 August- 2 September 2010 :• Development of mechanisms for provision of products and services to
the humanitarian community at global, regional and national levels• Implementation of a pilot for development of such capacities
• Participation in IASC SWG on the EWEA report process (26-28 September 2012)
Consultation process 2012-2013
Date Consultation
26-28 September 2012 Participation in IASC SWG on the EWEA drafting process *
1 October 2012 World Food Programme *
5 October 2012 OCHA-GDACS (with JRC participation) *
8 October 2012 UNOSAT/UNITAR
1 November 2012 IFRC
9 November 2012 EC DG ECHO
4 June 2013 JRC – Ispra *
5 – 6 June 2013 UNOSAT/UNITAR *
7 June 2013 OCHA-GDACS *
Consultation Outcome
GDACS
EU-JRC
UNOSAT
Non WMO-meteorological
providers
EWEAWMO and affiliated network
IASC
External partners/clients/stakeholders
Varied sources of meteorological
providers
GTS
WFP
External partners/clients/stakeholders
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Summary of consultative process• Joint Research Center (JRC)• UNOSAT-UNITAR• Emergency Services Branch OCHA (GDACS)• World Food Programme• IASC Early Warning Early Action Process
Joint Research Centre
Priority: Scientific development and support to impact and risk assessments of major natural disasters (of which earthquakes, storm surges, flooding). Disaster risk management priorities of EU.
Activities in:- Emergency prevention, planning, preparedness and response- Operation and logistics planning
Semi-operational
Responsible for scientific and information support to GDACS and Virtual On-Site Operations Coordination Centre portals;
Dissemination through RSS feeds for specific products
Joint Research Centre
1. Support to GDACS
Semi-operational support team (meteorologists) contribute to and support GDACS display of information:
1.Systematic analysis: Assessment of meteorological, climate and hydrologic high impact events;
2.Compilation and interpretation of information is made available through GDACS;
3. Automatic display based on modelling of information and data (ie. storm surge);
4. Textual summaries;
5. production of specific maps;
6. use of media outputs as source of information;
7. ECHO briefings & daily flash: compilation of short term of alert events available through GDACS
Joint Research Centre
2. European Flood portal
- Support research from JRC
- European Flood Awareness System (EFAS)
- Rapid response flood mapping – Dartmouth Flood Observatory
- Early flood warning program in support to EU and national institutes (probabilistic forecasts)
Summary of consultative process• Joint Research Center (JRC)• UNOSAT-UNITAR• Emergency Services Branch OCHA - Global Disaster Alert and
Coordination Services(GDACS)• World Food Programme• IASC Early Warning Early Action Process
UNOSAT – UNITAR Operational Satellite Applications ProgrammePriority: to deliver satellite imagery analysis in support to humanitarian aid and response, human security and strategic territorial planning. RAPID MAPPING.
Activities in:- Emergency response- Operation and logistics planning- Training and exercises
• Coordination of activities through the Emergency relief centre (MIC) and through UN (for out of EU).
• Trigger of the International Charter on Space and Major Disasters on behalf of UN OCHA (lead agency in the field).
UNOSAT – UNITAR Operational Satellite Applications Programme1.Rapid mapping activity: • Rapid mapping requested through UN organisations (ex.
OCHA) and NGOs;• Use of the International Charter Space and Major
Disasters when necessary. (approximately 2 weeks period);
- focus on earthquakes damages, landslides, fires, tsunamis, cyclones;
- flood analysis (online archive through geoportal):
-case studies: flood dynamics;
UNOSAT – UNITAR Operational Satellite Applications Programme• Research cycle incorporates operational needs in
requirements. Technical transfer is integral part of cycle. Satellite information integrated in mapping, for specific events/hazards.
1. HQ- 24/7 for emergencies only
2. Dissemination and sharing of information through the GDACS and Virtual On-Site Operations
Coordination Centre portals; email and RSS feeds
UNOSAT – UNITAR Operational Satellite Applications Programme
Satellite Data: MODIS AquaImagery Dates:14 September and 14 OctoberResolution:250mSource: NASA Rapid ResponseRoad Data : Google Map Maker / OSM / ESRIOther Data: USGS, WHO, OCHA, NGA, Google Map MakerAnalysis : UNITAR / UNOSATProduction: UNITAR / UNOSATAnalysis conducted with ArcGIS v10.1
http://www.unitar.org/unosat/node/44/1688
UNOSAT – UNITAR Operational Satellite Applications Programme2.Training and capacity building:• Training and Capacity building;- Collaboration with the Intergovernmental Authority on
Development (IGAD), ICPAC and Kenya Met office, UK Met, UK min of foreign affairs;
• Objectives:
1.Increase technical capacity
2.Raise awareness among decision makers:
3.Deployment of systems and visualisation of data
UNOSAT – UNITAR Operational Satellite Applications Programme2.Training and capacity building:
• On site training and in country• Satellite based analysis focus• operational training on how to use GIS for mapping, and
rapid mapping training• audience: academic, member states (capacity
development),• analysis of extreme events,• analysis of work flow.
Summary of consultative process• Joint Research Center (JRC)• UNOSAT-UNITAR• Emergency Services Branch OCHA -Global Disaster Alert and
Coordination Services(GDACS)• World Food Programme• IASC Early Warning Early Action Process
Emergency Services OCHA/Global Disaster Alert and Coordination ServicesPriority: to alert, coordinate and disseminate information related to major disasters through a common web portal in order to facilitate response to major disasters
Activities in:- Emergency planning, preparedness and response- Operation and logistics planning- Training and exercises
24/7 through European Monitoring and operations center
-Dissemination and sharing of information through the GDACS and Virtual On-Site Operations Coordination Centre portals
Global Disaster Alert and Coordination Services - GDACS
• Managed by Steering Committee of the European Commission Monitoring and Information Centre;
• Cooperation framework: UN, EC, stakeholders such as Disaster management, JRC, UNITAR/UNOSAT and Dartmouth Flood Observatory;
• Focus on earthquakes, cyclone, storm surges, flooding• Automatic Notification procedures (Alerts) activated through the
Virtual OOSC are based on specific benchmarks and thresholds:• Automatic notification for earthquakes• Breaking emergencies• Events for which assistance is requested• International media volume• Validation and notification of catastrophic event sent within 2 hours
Global Disaster Alert and Coordination Services - activities• Tropical cyclones and wind:
• Alert levels are relative to a vulnerability assessment based on wind speed, population at risk and potential impacts;
• Levels are specific to a country and situation:
• Storm Surges• Developed by JRC and ran after each advisory issued by regional
TCC
Wind speed Population Vulnerability Alert Level
38 – 73 mph (TS) < 10M Low – Medium – High Green
38 – 73 mph (TS) > 10M High Orange
74 – 110 mph (Cat 1-2) > 100K or > 10% Medium – High Orange
74 – 110 mph (Cat 1-2) > 1M High Red
> 111 mph (Cat 3) > 100K or > 10% Medium – High Red
> 111 mph (Cat 3) > 1M Low Orange
> 131 mph (Cat 4) > 1M Low Red
Global Disaster Alert and Coordination Services - activities• Extreme rainfall and floods:
• Alert levels and notifications (green, orange and red) are relative
Expected Total accumulations (mm)
Maximum Rain Rates (mm/h)
Amounts < 200 Rate<17
200 <Amounts<500 7<Rate<33
Amounts >500 Rate> 33
Global Disaster Alert and Coordination Services – V OSOCC• GDACS and Virtual OSOCC: one stop platform
integrating:• meteorological and modelling information (flooding, storm surges);• population risks for planning and response by disaster
management;• VOOSC stakeholders include authoritative agencies of which
transport, logistic planning organisations; Emergency Management Organisations;
• Interoperability of system: Breaking emergencies follow an information structure moderated at each level;
• Situational updates include links from related websites (including maps and text messages);
Global Disaster Alert and Coordination Services – V OSOCC• Media monitoring facilitates response coordination;• Weather forecast information used for operational
purposes (- 2 days to event and operational support) obtained from SARWeather.
• Additional requirements for weather and or climate information have not been determined with Disaster Management and Disaster Response organisations.
• GDACS supports planning (2 weeks prior to event) to mobilisation decision to coordination activities;
Emergency Services OCHA/Global Disaster Alert and Coordination Services
Adapted from http://www.gdacs.org/ July 12, 2012
Tropical Cyclones: Chantal-Carribean(101.4km/h), Soulik -China, Japan(231.7km/h), Erick- Mexico(130.4km/h)Earthquakes: Indonesia (4.8M)
Emergency Services OCHA/Global Disaster Alert and Coordination Services - VOSOCC
Adapted from http://www.gdacs.org/ July 12, 2012
Tropical Cyclone CHANTAL-13 can have a low humanitarian impact based on the Maximum sustained wind speed
and the affected population and their vulnerability.
Updated: this report is based on advisory number 11.
Tropical Cyclone Tropical Storm (maximum wind speed of 101 km/h)
from 08/07/2013 03:00 UTC to 10/07/2013 15:00 UTC
Population affected by Category 1 (120 km/h) wind speeds or higher is 0
Vulnerability: High
Extreme Rain
Potential rainfall is calculated based on rainfall observed by several microwave satellite sensors.
The image shows the total rainfall accumulation associated with the cyclone.
Storm surge
The maximum Storm surge height is 0.4m in Bay Heights, United States. This height is estimated for 12 Jul 2013 15:46:00.
OpenRain map with eTraP data. (Source: JRC)
maximum height. (Source: JRC)
Emergency Services OCHA/Global Disaster Alert and Coordination Services • Information obtained:
• Typhoon tracks and wind: Japan Meteorological Agency, Pacific Disaster Center and Joint Typhoon Warning centre;
• Storm surge information is obtained through JRC (Global Storm Surge Forecast and Inundation model). Data from other TCC are not integrated automatically within the GDACS system due to varied data format.
• Potential rainfall rates and accumulation is derived from satellite based information (microwave satellite sensors) provided by NOAA/NESDIS-eTrap (office of Satellite Data Processing and Distribution).
• Runoff rates are calculated to evaluate potential flooding, landslides and flash floods.
• The Dartmouth data observatory contributes information in real time to the detection of floods and has established a listing of past flooding events.
Emergency Services OCHA/Global Disaster Alert and Coordination ServicesAdditional activities:• Training modules and simulations available through site;• Supporting planning, coordination;• Multi agency Table top exercises
Emergency Services OCHA/Global Disaster Alert and Coordination Services – issuesIssues:• GTS access through JRC but,• Authoritative warnings are not integrated within GDACS
for countries at risk; • Format of information is an issue• Tropical cyclone information is received from only one
WMO related TCC center (JMA)
Summary of consultative process• Joint Research Center (JRC)• UNOSAT-UNITAR• Emergency Services Branch OCHA - Global Disaster Alert and
Coordination Services(GDACS)• World Food Programme• IASC Early Warning Early Action Process
World Food Programme
Priority: Ensure continued production, availability and security of food in vulnerable or critical locations and situations
Activities in Emergency planning and preparedness
HQ- 24/7 for emergencies only
Dissemination of information through subscription system, HEWSweb and IASC reporting
WFP Emergency Preparedness and Response Branch: Geographic Information Systems Services
• Purpose: • Support operational and logistic planning• Identification hazards, potential vulnerabilities
• Activities:• Mapping of demographic, urban, environmental and politic
information; • Tracking man-made and natural hazards• Multi-hazards risk analysis, remote sensing• Early warning maps (as used in EWEA report)• Simulation maps for training purposes• Vulnerability, analysis and Mapping
• Focus on Africa and Asia
WFP Emergency Preparedness and Response Branch: Early Warning, Analysis and Crisis support
• Purpose: • Monitor, analyse and inform about potential hazards (short term
and seasonal.
• Activities:• Early warning: Weather and environmental outlooks regarding
potential hazards and impacts for key areas;• Seasonal and Hazards Calendar (available through HEWS-
Humanitarian Early Warning Service): Focus on crop growing cycle but also identifies major hydro meteorological events and seasonal cycles;
• Information for assessments obtained through various sources: ECMWF, TCC, TRMM, NOAA GFSF, Tsunami bulletins
WFP Emergency Preparedness and Response Branch: Early Warning, Analysis and Crisis support
Seasonal Hazards calendar
• List of main extreme events and number of affected population• Areas affected and potential damage to crops during natural disasters• Natural disasters identified through GLIDE number
http://www.hewsweb.org/hazcal/
WFP Emergency Preparedness and Response Branch: Early Warning, Analysis and Crisis support
Regional Bureau Sudan - OD_S
SUDAN JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
rainy season dry spell (northeasterlies) rainy season
flood risk
drought events 2001 2000 1983 1998 2009 1991 1996
locust, grasshopper 2007 2005 2003
millet, sorghum, wheat
millet, sorghum wheat
wheat harvest
millet and sorghum harvest
lean season
Climate/TerrainClimate: mostly arid desert. Central and southern Sudan have rainy seasons, the total lengths of which vary according to their latitude; annual rainfall averagesn from 10 inches (250 mm) in the north to 20–30 inches (500–750 mm) in southern parts. Terrain: mainly composed of vast plains and plateaus that are drained by the Nile River and its tributaries.
LATEST FLOODS EVENTS with AFFECTED AREAS
July 2007 - Karthoum, Omdurman and Kassala - Nile and Gash rivers; 2003 - north-eastern town of Kassala
August
2009 - Omdurman-Khartoum; 2008 - Aweil East, South and Central Counties of Northern Bahr el Ghazal State-southwest; 2006 - Capital Khartoum, North-Blue and White Nile rivers; main affected areas in the North, East and Centre-Northern, Red Sea, River Nile, Khartoum, Kassala, Gezira, Northern Kordofan, Gedaref, White Nile, Blue Nile and Sinnar States; 2005 - El Fasher and Khartoum; 2003 - since late July - excessive rainfall in the Eritrean highlands, alongside localised rains, caused the Gash river to burst its banks late last month. Thirteen people have been killed and 56 injured, while thousands of houses have been destroyed along with Kassala town's only hospital. Kassala declared a disaster zone; 2002 - Western Kordofan, White Nile, Gazira, Khartoum states; 2001 - Blue Nile River has burst its banks and overflowed in Eastern and partially Northern Sudan, particularly the states of Khartoum, Northern, River Nile, Gezira, Blue Nile, Upper Nile and Sinnar, the last one being the worst affected
September2005 - Heavy rainstorms in Port Sudan with Several administrative units (Central, Eastern, Southern Administrative Units, Arbaat and Suakin) bad damaged; 1999 - River Nile State, Kassala, North Kordofan, Karthoum, North Dongola; 1998 - since August, 18 of 26 States affected, mainly Khartoum, River Nile, Northern Nile, White Nile and Kassala and about 1,000,000 people
LATEST DROUGHT EVENTS with AFFECTED AREAS
2001 - Darfur, Kordofan, Mer-Rouge, Bahr-el-Ghazal provinces; 2000 - about 2 million people affetcted in North Darfur, North Korfofan states among others - Juba and its surrounding areas, East Equatoria, Jonglei since beginning of year and until September; 1996 - mainly in Darfur and Kordofan and 160,000 people affected
Alessandra Piccolo/Marion Cézard, WFP, 28092012
WFP Emergency Preparedness and Response Branch: Early Warning, Analysis and Crisis support
Alessandra Piccolo/Marion Cézard, WFP, 28092012
WFP Emergency Preparedness and Response Branch: Food Security Analysis Service
• Purpose: • Assess status of food availability and distribution to vulnerable
populations.
• Activities:• Monitors agricultural resources and productivity (commercial and
household);• Supports response operations, policy development, planning and
fund raising;• Information through GIS, satellite mapping and Personal Digital
Assistants for field information
WFP Emergency Preparedness and Response Branch: Humanitarian Air Operations Activities
• Purpose: • Aerial transport of WFP and other UN agencies and NGO staff and
resources supporting interventions
• Activities:• UN Humanitarian Air service (UNHAS) • Aviation Safety Unit• Information used: Charts based on ECMWF model outputs
World Food Programme – Meteorological and climate guidance• Currently using: ECMWF, NOAA, JTWC, CIMMS, TRMM.
• Partner with Dartmouth Observatory and ITHACA research Center• WFP is looking into open source information;
• REQUESTED• Access to model output• Access to historical climate data requested;• Potential need for agricultural related indicators (growth);
Summary of consultative process• Joint Research Center (JRC)• UNOSAT-UNITAR• Emergency Services Branch OCHA - Global Disaster Alert and
Coordination Services(GDACS)• World Food Programme• IASC Early Warning Early Action Process
IASC SWG Early Warning Early Action Report Purpose: Provide anticipatory evaluation of potential of high risks, high probability or high impact situations requiring the involvement of humanitarian agencies. • in particular with respect to the management and delivery
of food and other supplies;• their potential development during the period subject to
the report (6 months).• Participation and drafting process involving IASC
members;• Recommendations with respect to readiness for
contingencies and strategies issued based on assessment.
IASC SWG Early Warning Early Action Report • Warning of the potential of high risk, high probability and
high impact events requiring HA involvement • Assessment of
(i) the occurrence and intensity of potential hazards, whether natural, conflict based, political or economic,
(ii) the risks associated with these hazards and,
(iii) the impacts of these hazards that could meet or surpass a humanitarian assistance determined threshold.*
• Potential triggers and impacts - indicators• Refinement and adjustment of process• Bi-annual
IASC SWG Early Warning Early Action Report
Early Warning Early Action Report Recommendations regarding WMO participationIdentifying a process for involvement and knowledge transfer (WMO)
Phase 1 - Preparation: Identification of potential global and regional scale hazards prior to drafting EW Report:
- participation early in process
- understanding previous ‘hot spots’ and exacerbating meteorological or hydrological factors
- communication processes (user groups, RCOFs, global seasonal updates, and others)
- updates in HA concerns
Phase 2 - Drafting and validation process- multiple communications – availability of support
- weather vigilance – high risk conflicts
- considerations for linkages with country/national level support
Phase 3 - Verification process (occurrence of natural hazards) and capacity building
Summary of needs• Need for integrated and coordinated approach and access to
meteorological/climate information;• Information made available should have adequate metadata on use,
limits;• Information (data, warnings) should be readily available, formatted to
be ingested in commonly used systems (georeferenced); seamless and
• Outreach between parties would enable the development of useful products and services;
• Access to training of meteorological/hydrological concepts indicated;• Consultation process/Interpretation in hydro-meteorological high
impact situations
* Specific needs to be within summary report
Observations and Opportunities
• Opportunity to participate in Multidisciplinary approach in planning, preparedness and response with Humanitarian Agencies would help to identify and fine tune required support;
• Increasing linkages between HAs and global, regional and NMHSs;
• WMO participation in annual GDACS meeting/outreach and simulation exercises;
• Evaluate opportunities of GDACS as potential linkage between NMHS and disaster management and response organisations;
