WRRC Seminar Series

April 23, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Mānoa Campus, Pacific Ocean Science and Technology (POST) 126

The Importance of ENSO Information in Water Resources Management: Experience from the Pacific Islands and Bangladesh

Dr. Md. Rashed Chowdhury
Principal Research Scientist
Pacific ENSO Applications Climate Center (PEAC), Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research (JIMAR), University of Hawaii at Manoa

Abstract:Recent findings revealed that the basin-wide rainfall, run-off, sea level, and tropical cyclones in the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO)-sensitive U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Islands (USAPI) and Bangladesh have undergone considerable changes. While the water resources in these two regions are already stressed, these recent changes are further aggravating problems by causing severe water shortages (i.e., drought) during the lean periods and excessive water (i.e., flooding) during the monsoon season. These variations appear in seasonal sea level, rainfall, tropical cyclone, and flooding patterns.

This study is an overview of ENSO-based climate forecasts, warning, and response system for decision making in water resources management. The objective is to visit two climate sensitive ‘hotspots’ (i.e., USAPI and Bangladesh), and emphasize the role of ENSO-based climate information for forecasting, warning, and management of local rainfall, flooding, tropical cyclones, and sea level on seasonal time scales. Currently, an operational climate forecasting and warning response scheme in the USAPI region is fully instrumental where ENSO-based climate information are extensively used for planning and decision options regarding water resources management. On the other hand, climate information is just beginning to aid the decision-making process in Bangladesh; Bangladesh can better manage threatened water resources by developing potential prediction and response schemes utilizing ENSO and local climate data.

Keywords: El Niño/La Niña, flooding, sea level, U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Islands, and Bangladesh.


Event Sponsor
Water Resources Research Center, Mānoa Campus

More Information
(808) 956-8272, http://www.wrrc.hawaii.edu/spring2015seminars.shtml

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