First IAI/UM Summer Institute on
Interdisciplinary Global Change Science in the Americas
"Interactions between Seasonal-to-Interannual
Climate Variability and Human Systems"
Miami, Florida, USA
July 11-30, 1999
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Institute Theme
Instructors
Institute Leaders
Description of Application and Selection Processes
Institute Participants
Institute Program
Logistic information
INSTITUTE THEME
The theme selected for the first Summer Institute is "Interactions between Seasonal to Inter-annual Climate Variability and Human Systems." The Institute explored links between climate variability associated mainly with the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon and important socio-economic sectors (e.g., agriculture, management of water resources). In particular, the Institute explored the implications of the emerging capability to forecast the occurrence on ENSO events with lead time of several months, and the feasibility of incorporating this information into decision-making or policy-making processes.
INSTITUTE LEADERS, GUEST LECTURERS, AND MINI-PROJECT COORDINATORS
Institute Leaders
Two experienced scientists with complementary backgrounds led the first Summer Institute. Dr. Diana Liverman, Director of the Latin American Studies program at the University of Arizona, USA, coordinated the social science component. Dr. Liverman's research interests focus on the social causes and consequences of environmental change, especially in Latin America. Dr. Alice Grimm, from the Federal University of Paraná, Brazil, and currently a visiting scientist at the International Research Institute for Climate Prediction (IRI) led the natural sciences component. Dr. Grimm has performed much research on the ENSO signature in South American climate.
Brief biographies and a list of recent publications for both Institute Leaders can be found at http://www.rsmas.miami.edu/IAIUM/leaderbios.html.
Guest Lecturers
Recognized experts on interannual climate variability and its effects on human systems presented a series of guest lectures during the First Institute.
All guest lectures at a glance! Calendar of guest lectures
Table of guest lecturers, lecture topics and dates
Research Mini-project coordinators
Two hands-on research mini-projects were completed by participants during the Summer Institute. The first mini-project, focused on ENSO and agricultural production in Argentina, was coordinated by Dr. James Hansen, from the University of Florida, with assistance from Mr. Carlos Messina, from the University of Buenos Aires. The second mini-project focused on climate variability and water resources in Ecuador was co-coordinated by Dr. Remigio Galarraga, from the Escuela Politécnica Nacional of Quito, and Dr. Edison Heredia-Calderón, from Ecuador's Instituto Nacional de Meteorología e Hidrología (INAMHI).
PROGRAM
- Climate variability on seasonal to interannual scales, possible sources
- The El Niño - Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon
- Impacts of El Niño and La Niña events in the Americas
- Climate forecasting techniques: statistical and numerical methods
- Capabilities and limitations of current climate forecasts
- Observation systems required to monitor and forecast ENSO events
- Impacts of climate variability on important social and economic systems: major focus on water resources and agriculture, overview of impacts on other sectors (fisheries, human health, natural disasters)
- Linking different kinds of models (climatic, agronomic, hydrologic, economic) to explore outcomes of alternative responses to climate scenarios
- Potential use of climate forecasts in support of decision-making
- Communicating climate information effectively
- Economic, social, and cultural barriers or impediments towards the use of climate information
A list of daily activities can be found here.
INSTITUTE ACTIVITIES
The Institute involved formal lectures and hands-on research projects completed by participants, as well as a series of participatory activities. The Institute's theme served as the central focus for most activities. Background lectures by Institute Leaders introduced participants from diverse disciplines to the various dimensions of the Institute's theme. Several guest lecturers provided information about some of the sub-themes listed in the preliminary Institute Program. Guest lecturers were world-class scientists with recognized expertise.
A fundamental component of the Institute's activities was the hands-on research mini-projects completed by participants during the Institute. The mini-projects emphasized the need for multi-disciplinary, multi-national collaboration when dealing with global change problems with multiple natural and social dimensions. Two mini-projects were completed, focused on agriculture and water resources, respectively.
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