hazards

Summary

The project goals were assess drought, and flood hazard risk using climate, terrestrial and societal information. So far, we have been able to

establish partnerships with government, private sector and civil society groups
Compile climate and disaster data
Provide a weekly, monthly and annual digest of climate diagnosis, monitoring and predictions.
Set up data management systems
Set up instruments for
- automatic weather stations with online access.
- air quality measurements in Male
- soil moisture
- Used these data for real time monitoring
Undertake case studies to diagnose the role of climate and other factors.
- drought and water scarcity in Greater Male
- water scarcity assessment by island in Maldives
- dengue risk in Maldives
- Repeated flood disaster in Akurana in Sri Lanka
- 2016 Landslide Disaster in Aranayaka in Sri Lanka
Write research papers
Develop information provision portals
Communicate via newspapers, blogs and social media
Provide in-service training and internships to about 12 junior scientists
Contribute content for teaching at the Maldives National University and University of Peradeniya
Undertake timely reporting of quarterly and annual project reports.

Key Information Resources

Assessing disaster hazards project flyer

Project Update at National Academy of Sciences

Personnel

Principal Investigator: Prof.P.Wickramagamage (FECT)

Co-Principal Investigators: Dr.Lareef Zubair (FECT)

Dr.Zahid- Maldivian meteorological service (MMS)

Project Duration 2015-2018

Sponsors:

National Academy of Sciences
USAID
- Sri Lanka
- Maldives

Partners:

US Partner: Goddard Space Flight Center-NASA (NASA-GFSC)

Contact- Dr.Randall Koster

The Maldives National University (MNU)

Contact- Dr.Shazla Mohamed

Photographs and Videos

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Extended Summary

Project Goals

To develop operational drought, flood and landslide hazard assessments using climate, terrestrial and societal information and to assess drought, flood and landslide risk more reliably in Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

Objectives

Engage with Key stakeholders for guidance and effectiveness.
Develop Data resources.
Develop Historical hazard indices for Sri Lanka and Maldives.
Develop indices to Assess multiple methodologies for hazard estimation using available data.
Assess vulnerability and resilience for the different hazards.
Assess predictions from satellite and model predictions to cast hazards in advance.
Develop multivariate hazard estimation methodology for prediction.
Diagnose physical underpinnings of differences of multivariate indices to improve skills.
Capacity building through improving research infrastructure and training for students.

Development Outcomes:

Improved risk management and policy making.
Use of advanced climate information.
Generation & application of near-term climate change information.
Development of expertise in application of near-term climate change information.
Training of undergraduates, researchers, disaster managers.

What has been done?

I. Climate Analysis and Tools-Progress

Compilation of climate predictions.
Ongoing weekly & monthly dissemination of climate reports.
Developed tools for drought monitoring
Drought Portals for Sri Lanka and Maldives, which are comprehensive resources on droughts were launched.
- Maldives Drought Portal
- Sri Lanka Drought Portal

II. Dissemination and Training

Conference contribution.
Training of junior scientists.
Conducting University lectures at UoP Sri Lanka & MNU Maldives.
Web & social media dissemination of products.
Workshops, Media outreach.
Communication strategy for Maldives.

III. Case StudiesThrough case studies and the monitoring systems, the team has undertaken a detailed study of information to support decision making for