The Future of Climate Forecasting
Many parts of Eastern Africa currently experience climate extremes that dramatically increase the vulnerability of key socio-economic sectors. The region’s population continue to grapple with losses in livelihoods, food insecurity, unemployment, limited access to education, gender inequality, and a host of other social problems.
Some of the challenges associated with attempts to integrate climate variability and change in regional development strategies include limited knowledge and multidisciplinary capacity, observation, and data systems in adequate prediction and early warning systems, an inability to effectively use available products, and a lack of advocacy and climate smart policies.
This webinar will focus on the increasing knowledge and raise awareness on the future of forecasting, identify and discuss the latest trends and advancements in weather forecasting technologies.
Panelists
Hussen Seid Endris
Climate Modeling Expert ICPACmoderator
Hussen Seid Endris is a climate scientist at the IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC). He received his Ph.D. Degree in Atmospheric Science from the University of Cape Town, South Africa, and his B.Sc Degree in Meteorology from Arba Minch University, Ethiopia. Dr. Endris has strong experience in climate forecasting, model evaluation, forecast verification, regional climate modeling, downscaling, and regional climate analysis. He published several scientific journal articles as lead author and co-author in peer-reviewed journals. He was one of the contributing authors in the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) fifth and sixth assessment reports (AR5 and AR6) on the climate section of the Africa chapter.
Masilin Gudoshava
Climate Modeling Expert ICPACdiscussant
Topic: Innovations in the March to May Forecast
Masilin Gudoshava is a climate Modelling Expert at the IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre. She has over 10 years of experience in climate modeling utilizing the Weather Research and Forecasting model. Masilin’s work involves advancing the scientific knowledge on the sub-seasonal to seasonal drivers, sub-seasonal to seasonal forecasting, tailoring of forecast products, conducting capacity building training workshops, and integrating the research outputs into improving the climate services over the Greater Horn of Africa. She has authored and co-authored numerous peer-reviewed and policy documents. Masilin is currently a member of the World Research Climate Programme (WCRP) African Monsoon Working Group and the Scientific Steering Group for the My Climate Risk.
Chris Funk
Director of Climate Hazards Center, University of Santa Barbara University of Santa Barbaradiscussant
Topic: Long Range Drought Forecasting
Chris Funk is the Director of the Climate Hazards Center (CHC) at UC Santa Barbara. He works with an international team of Earth scientists to inform weather and famine-related disaster responses. Chris studies climate and climate change while also developing improved data sets and monitoring/prediction systems. In 2020 Chris and Shrad Shukla published a book on Drought Early Warning and Forecasting. In 2021, Cambridge Press published Dr. Funk’s Drought, Flood, Fire: How Climate Change Contributes to Recent Catastrophes. While his research interests are quite diverse, a central theme uniting Chris’ work is developing both the technical/scientific resources and the conceptual frameworks that will help us cope with increasingly dangerous climate and weather extremes.
Balakrishnan Solaraju-Murali
Researcher Barcelona Supercomputing Centerdiscussant
Topic: Planning for Weather One to Ten Years Ahead
Balakrishnan Solaraju Murali is a climate researcher at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center. His research revolves around developing cutting-edge techniques for post-processing climate data and co-developing climate services tailored to meet the unique needs of diverse stakeholders from sectors such as agriculture, renewable energy, and health. His work has provided one of the pioneering examples of the use of decadal/ multiannual predictions in climate services.