US-Niger Planning Visit: Building collaborations in regional climate prediction with the African Centre of Meteorological Applications for Development (ACMAD)

这次计划中的访问将使哥伦比亚大学气候系统研究中心的研究人员能够与位于尼日尔尼亚美的非洲气象应用促进发展中心（ACMAD）的气候科学家建立更强有力的合作。在美国国家科学基金会的支持下，哥伦比亚大学开发了一种适合热带地区的气候模拟模式。对该模式最新版本RM3的评估表明，它在准确预测西非降水发生的地点和时间方面具有很高的潜力。这个计划工作的第一个目标将是在ACMAD中安装RM3模型。哥伦比亚大学副研究科学家Matthew Fulakeza博士将在尼亚美花三周时间与他的非洲同行一起安装模型并对RM3模拟进行故障排除。ACMAD的天气监测和预报部门负责人Ali El Majdoub先生将与Fulakeza合作，为试验提供相关输入和验证数据。一旦RM3在气象中心安装及运作，气象中心将会检查模拟产品在日常天气预报及季节气候预测方面的用途。对季节性气候预测的评估将为包括美国科学家在内的国际气象界提供有价值的数据，他们一直在努力完善西非季节性气候预测的方法。让RM3在ACMAD工作还将提高ACMAD向其52个非洲成员国提供气候信息的质量；改进该地区夏季风季的预报可显著促进该地区的可持续发展。计划中的尼日尔之行将安排好时间，以便Fulakeza能够在2005年底在塞内加尔达喀尔举行的第一届非洲季风多学科分析国际会议（AMMA，一个大型国际研究项目）上报告RM3/ACMAD的合作情况。El Majdoub稍后将访问哥伦比亚大学，在那里他将能够参与该模型的进一步开发和RM3产品的评估，从而继续合作。这项合作将使美国的技术对非洲产生积极的社会影响，例如对气候事件非常敏感的农业和商业。哥伦比亚大学的研究人员将有机会在包括实际应用在内的操作环境中评估他们的模型。这一合作将打开一个沟通渠道，促进目前和未来的科学知识交流，造福两国人民。

0534919 DruyanThis planning visit will enable researchers from the Columbia University Center for Climate Systems Research to build stronger collaborations with climate scientists at the African Centre of Meteorological Applications for Development (ACMAD) in Niamey, Niger. A climate simulation model suitable for tropical regions has been developed (with NSF support) at Columbia. Evaluations of the latest version of this model, the RM3, demonstrate its high potential for accurately predicting where and when precipitation occurs over West Africa. The first objective of this planning effort will be to install the RM3 model at ACMAD. Columbia University Associate Research Scientist, Dr. Matthew Fulakeza, will spend three weeks in Niamey working with his African counterparts to install the model and to troubleshoot RM3 simulations. Mr. Ali El Majdoub, ACMAD's Head of the Weather Watch and Prediction Department, will work with Fulakeza and provide relevant input and validation data for the trials. Once the RM3 is installed and working at ACMAD, the simulation products will be examined for their usefulness for daily weather forecasts and seasonal climate predictions. Evaluations of the seasonal climate predictions will provide valuable data for the international meteorological community, including U.S. scientists, who have been striving to perfect methods of seasonal climate prediction for West Africa. Having the RM3 working at ACMAD will also improve the quality of ACMAD's delivery of climate information to its 52- member African nations; improved prediction during the region's summer monsoon season could significantly contribute to the sustainable development of the region. The planning visit to Niger will be timed so that Fulakeza can report on the RM3/ACMAD collaborations at the First International Meeting of the African Monsoon Multidisciplinary Analysis (AMMA, a large international research program), to be held in Dakar, Senegal in late 2005.The collaboration will continue with a later visit by El Majdoub to Columbia University where he will be able to participate in further development of the model and in the evaluation of RM3 products. The collaboration will enable a contribution of American technology towards positive societal impacts in Africa, such as in agriculture and commerce, which are very sensitive to climatic events. The Columbia researchers will benefit from the opportunity to evaluate their model in an operational setting that includes practical applications. The collaboration will open a conduit of communication that will facilitate on-going and future exchanges of scientific know-how for the mutual benefit of both communities.