4th MEETING and TRAINING
23–26 November 2010
Naupilon, Greece
THE 4th CONSORTIUM MEETING
The 4th Meeting of DMCSEE was organised by AUA in the picturesque and historic town of Nauplion in Greece. The work in each work package of the Project was presented with useful suggestions for the successful proceeding of the project and all partners reached agreements on their next steps.
During the meeting, results and conclusions for SPI indexes were presented and parameters were defined: annual precipitation, annual temperature, SPI maps (August 2003 – SP1, SP3 and 6 months (1997 – 2000)). On this basis the Consortium agreed to prepare common map for the whole region and harmonize the data. The purpose of SPI implementation is to build internet GIS platform for presentation of maps foreseen as outputs in this project.
Palfai drought index (PaDI) was presented in theory and in practice. PaDI indicates strength of drought for one agricultural year (from October to September) with data.
The snow model which is used for forecasting snow water availability was also presented along with the input data for calculation and the need of continuous data input from the (earliest possible) beginning of the snow season (precipitation (6-hourly), temperature (2m daily min and max), and wind speed if available), was pointed out.
During the meeting workshops were organised with practical examples of WINISAREG model and excel model of PaDI. Moreover, the exact definition of vulnerability that would guide the consortium at their work was made. It was decided to use the concept of vulnerability according to the Nebraska case study that can be applied for agricultural drought as well.
In the meeting was also discussed to model simulations that would permit to assess the vulnerability of rainfed and irrigated crops (maize) by using the validated WINISAREG model under present and scenario built weather conditions for two maize hybrids in SEE.
The final purposes of risk assessment were elaborated. On the grounds that there are multiple approaches to risk assessment; many of them require a lot of data, the proposed approach that would be suitable for DMCSEE partnership requires basically SPI or precipitation data and information on loses due to drought impacts and mitigation practices. Methodological framework was presented and it was pointed out that discussion on vulnerability should be policy oriented - how did policy makers reacted. For the risk assessment the partners would have to gather cost data (how much drought costs people), cost effectiveness and environmental data.
Under the framework of the Communication and Dissemination of the Project the next steps that should be made (Newsletters, leaflets etc) were discussed. Moreover, the 2nd Meeting of the SEE Programme’s Project Communication Network which took place in Budapest in 10th November 2010 was presented, in which DMCSEE consortium participated with a representative. According to the fruitful experience of the workshop and the evolution of DMCSEE Communication activities a Strengths, Weaknesses and Opportunities analysis of WP2 was made and strategies were suggested to improve and extend the dissemination of DMCSEE Project.
TRAINING ON DROUGHT RISK AND VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT
The DMCSEE consortium had the honour to host Prof. Evan C. Vlachos from Colorado State University who gave a lecture on Drought Risk Assessment, emphasising on worldwide methods and new trends regarding drought risk assessment and management. Moreover, Mrs Maja Slejko (UNG) presented GIS based models and GIS based assessment of vulnerability of crops to drought in Slovenia. Mr Sandor Szalai from Szent Istvan University, had a lecture on training methods regarding Drought Vulnerability Assessment.
During the meeting, results and conclusions for SPI indexes were presented and parameters were defined: annual precipitation, annual temperature, SPI maps (August 2003 – SP1, SP3 and 6 months (1997 – 2000)). On this basis the Consortium agreed to prepare common map for the whole region and harmonize the data. The purpose of SPI implementation is to build internet GIS platform for presentation of maps foreseen as outputs in this project.
Palfai drought index (PaDI) was presented in theory and in practice. PaDI indicates strength of drought for one agricultural year (from October to September) with data.
The snow model which is used for forecasting snow water availability was also presented along with the input data for calculation and the need of continuous data input from the (earliest possible) beginning of the snow season (precipitation (6-hourly), temperature (2m daily min and max), and wind speed if available), was pointed out.
During the meeting workshops were organised with practical examples of WINISAREG model and excel model of PaDI. Moreover, the exact definition of vulnerability that would guide the consortium at their work was made. It was decided to use the concept of vulnerability according to the Nebraska case study that can be applied for agricultural drought as well.
In the meeting was also discussed to model simulations that would permit to assess the vulnerability of rainfed and irrigated crops (maize) by using the validated WINISAREG model under present and scenario built weather conditions for two maize hybrids in SEE.
The final purposes of risk assessment were elaborated. On the grounds that there are multiple approaches to risk assessment; many of them require a lot of data, the proposed approach that would be suitable for DMCSEE partnership requires basically SPI or precipitation data and information on loses due to drought impacts and mitigation practices. Methodological framework was presented and it was pointed out that discussion on vulnerability should be policy oriented - how did policy makers reacted. For the risk assessment the partners would have to gather cost data (how much drought costs people), cost effectiveness and environmental data.
Under the framework of the Communication and Dissemination of the Project the next steps that should be made (Newsletters, leaflets etc) were discussed. Moreover, the 2nd Meeting of the SEE Programme’s Project Communication Network which took place in Budapest in 10th November 2010 was presented, in which DMCSEE consortium participated with a representative. According to the fruitful experience of the workshop and the evolution of DMCSEE Communication activities a Strengths, Weaknesses and Opportunities analysis of WP2 was made and strategies were suggested to improve and extend the dissemination of DMCSEE Project.
TRAINING ON DROUGHT RISK AND VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT
The DMCSEE consortium had the honour to host Prof. Evan C. Vlachos from Colorado State University who gave a lecture on Drought Risk Assessment, emphasising on worldwide methods and new trends regarding drought risk assessment and management. Moreover, Mrs Maja Slejko (UNG) presented GIS based models and GIS based assessment of vulnerability of crops to drought in Slovenia. Mr Sandor Szalai from Szent Istvan University, had a lecture on training methods regarding Drought Vulnerability Assessment.
