News / National
Zimbabwe to host the 16th Southern Africa Regional Climate Outlook Forum
13 Aug 2012 at 19:55hrs | Views
Zimbabwe will this month host the 16th Southern Africa Regional Climate Outlook Forum (SARCOF-16) to develop a consensus weather forecast for the period from October 2012 to March 2013. The Southern Africa Development Community through the Climate Services Centre is organising the forum, slated for August 23 and 24.
Sarcof is a collaborative effort between the Zimbabwe Meteorological Services Department, Sadc Climate Services Centre, Sadc Disaster Risk Reduction Unit, African Development Bank, World Meteorological Organization, Food and Agricultural Organisation, International Strategy for Disaster Reduction and other partners.
In a statement, Sarcof said the forum would be preceded by a nine-day Climate Experts Capacity Building Workshop of Sadc National Meteorological/Hydrological Services personnel to develop the critical inputs for the 2012/13 seasonal climate forecast.
"The forum will also discuss the potential impacts of the consensus seasonal climate outlook on other socio-economic sectors including disaster risk management, food security, health, water resources and hydropower management, among others," it said.
Sarcof said the forum would run under the theme "Climate Information and Prediction, Decision Support Tool for Sustainable Socio-economic Development".
It said the forum would also review the October 2011 to March 2012 rainy season for the Sadc region.
Delegates to the conference would include climate prediction experts from the national Meteorological/Hydrological Services in the Sadc region and climate scientists from universities, research institutions and regional and international organisations engaged in climate modelling, prediction and applications for the region.
Sarcof said various regional and international governmental and non-governmental organizations and development partners were also expected to attend.
Sarcof is a collaborative effort between the Zimbabwe Meteorological Services Department, Sadc Climate Services Centre, Sadc Disaster Risk Reduction Unit, African Development Bank, World Meteorological Organization, Food and Agricultural Organisation, International Strategy for Disaster Reduction and other partners.
In a statement, Sarcof said the forum would be preceded by a nine-day Climate Experts Capacity Building Workshop of Sadc National Meteorological/Hydrological Services personnel to develop the critical inputs for the 2012/13 seasonal climate forecast.
"The forum will also discuss the potential impacts of the consensus seasonal climate outlook on other socio-economic sectors including disaster risk management, food security, health, water resources and hydropower management, among others," it said.
Sarcof said the forum would run under the theme "Climate Information and Prediction, Decision Support Tool for Sustainable Socio-economic Development".
It said the forum would also review the October 2011 to March 2012 rainy season for the Sadc region.
Delegates to the conference would include climate prediction experts from the national Meteorological/Hydrological Services in the Sadc region and climate scientists from universities, research institutions and regional and international organisations engaged in climate modelling, prediction and applications for the region.
Sarcof said various regional and international governmental and non-governmental organizations and development partners were also expected to attend.
Source - New Ziana
