WRRC Seminar Series

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

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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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Thursday, April 23
1:30am	Timothy Vigilla, tenor Mānoa Campus, Orvis Auditorium
9:00am	Grow Hawaiian Festival Bishop Museum
9:30am	Introduction to Student Coaching Hawaiʻi Campus, classroom B4-R3 (UHCWH, Kealakekua)
11:00am	Mauna Kea Film Screenings West Oʻahu Campus, Multipurpose Room
12:00pm	Fulbright U.S. Student Program Workshop Mānoa Campus, Kuykendall 106
12:00pm	The Madoff Morality Play: Scenes from an American Tragedy Mānoa Campus, Henke 325
12:00pm	Persian Movie Screening: The Fifth Reaction, 2003, Directed by Tahmineh Milani Mānoa Campus, Moore 258
1:00pm	Reading Poetry: A Poetry Reading by Eric Paul Shaffer Honolulu Campus, Library - Bldg. 7, 1st floor
1:00pm	Resume Writing Workshop Hawaiʻi Campus, Manono Campus Building 379 Room 1A
2:30pm	Manny Cagdan, piano Mānoa Campus, Orvis Auditorium
3:00pm	Behind the Scenes Waikiki Aquarium
3:00pm	WRRC Seminar Series Mānoa Campus, Pacific Ocean Science and Technology (POST) 126
3:00pm	Oceanography Seminar: Sara Ferron-Smith Mānoa Campus, Marine Sciences Building, MSB 100
3:15pm	Economics Final Oral Mānoa Campus, Saunders 515
5:00pm	UH College of Engineering 15th Annual Banquet Mānoa Campus, Hawai‘i Convention Center – Kalākaua Ballroom
7:00pm	UHWO University Chorus in Spring Concert West Oʻahu Campus, UHWO Library
7:30pm	Sean Chen, Van Cliburn International Piano Competition Crystal Award Winner Mānoa Campus, Orvis Auditorium