Collaboration increases knowledge of climate modelling in South America

Regional climate modelling is a key element in laying the groundwork for decisions on matters where climate change affects society. To expand local knowledge of regional climate modelling, the CORDEX network is currently arranging workshops for regional climate modelling with the aim of increasing local expertise in South America.

In Sweden and across the world, research is underway to define past and future climate change. One way of doing this is by making detailed regional climate change calculations which reveal how the climate may change and which can be used as a basis for decisions on climate change adaptation.

“In the CORDEX network, we want to spread knowledge about working with climate models and what the models can tell us about future climate change, to ensure there is local expertise on all continents. For a number of years, we have worked with researchers in Africa and Asia, and now we also want to extend this knowledge to South America,” explains Iréne Lake, Director of the International Project Office for CORDEX at SMHI.

La Paz Bolivia
The first workshop in La Paz, Bolivia, was held on 25-27 June 2018. Researchers from South America will have the opportunity to learn more about how climate simulations can be used for different purposes.

Spreading knowledge through collaboration

In the workshops organised through the CORDEX network, researchers from the region have the opportunity to work under the leadership of experienced climate modellers in order to improve their knowledge of how climate simulations can be used for different purposes. The goal is for them to go on to write scientific articles about their findings whilst making contact with users of climate information.

“We’ve also invited users who work with the consequences of climate change, in order to increase knowledge about the groundwork required for vulnerability, impact and adaptation studies,” Iréne Lake tells us.

In 2018, two workshops will be held in Asia, one of which was carried out in Malaysia in May. At the end of June, an initial workshop was held in Bolivia, South America, with the hope of creating a longer series of workshops which will also be conducted in Africa and Asia.