IRI Data Library: enhancing accessibility of climate knowledge

M. Benno Blumenthal, Michael Bell, John del Corral, Rémi Cousin, and Igor Khomyakov

Problem?Database, tables, spreadsheets, GRIDB, netCDF, images, binary, servers, OpenDAP, THREDDS, shapefile

Informed action by decision-maker

Generate knowledge

Access to knowledge

Barriers: Technology constraints

Barriers: Access in relevant and timely manner

Barriers: Uptake of Climate Information

Datasets Inter-operabilitymali cfsva2005 climate change.sav

Datasets Inter-operability

Problem?Database, tables, spreadsheets, GRIDB, netCDF, images, binary, servers, OpenDAP, THREDDS, shapefile

Informed action by decision-maker

Generate knowledge

Access to knowledge

Solution!Data Library TechnologySemantics Framework

Barriers: Technology constraints

Barriers: Access in relevant and timely manner

Barriers: Uptake of Climate Information

Generating Knowledge

Problem?Database, tables, spreadsheets, GRIDB, netCDF, images, binary, servers, OpenDAP, THREDDS, shapefile

Informed action by decision-maker

Generate knowledge

Access to knowledge

Solution!Data Library TechnologySemantics Framework

Ingrid Data LanguageIRI science

Barriers: Technology constraints

Barriers: Access in relevant and timely manner

Barriers: Uptake of Climate Information

Serving data

Problem?Database, tables, spreadsheets, GRIDB, netCDF, images, binary, servers, OpenDAP, THREDDS, shapefile

Informed action by decision-maker

Generate knowledge

Access to knowledge

Solution!Data Library TechnologySemantics Framework

Ingrid Data LanguageIRI science

Internet-based technologyServing dataMaprooms

Barriers: Technology constraints

Barriers: Access in relevant and timely manner

Barriers: Uptake of Climate Information

The birth and life of the IFRC Maprooms

The birth and life of the IFRC Maprooms

If floods relate to unusual rainfall, does this map tell where rainfall is unusual?

No! Need for historical context: Compare current 6-day forecast with historical 30-year average same 6-day period

Need for a new dataset

The birth and life of the IFRC Maprooms

The birth and life of the IFRC MaproomsNew relevant information identified: seasonal forecast and context (historical, socio-economics)

The birth and life of the IFRC MaproomsNew relevant information identified: seasonal forecast and context (historical, socio-economics)

The birth and life of the IFRC Maprooms

The birth and life of the IFRC Maprooms

More Maprooms

Training Tool

Summer Institute for professionals of climate and health in Lamont – reproduced locally in Andean countries, Mercosur countries, Ethiopia, Madagascar.

Training on the Fire Maprooms in Indonesia

Columbia University classes

Etc.

Let trainee think the abstract of data manipulation and focus on actual scientific analysis therefore helping the uptake of IRI science behind the generated knowledge

Technology Transfer

NMA (Ethiopia)TMA (Tanzania)AGRHYMET (West Africa)CEAZA (Chile)ACMAD (Africa)IIT-Delhi (India)IMD (India)CAZALAC (LAC)CCROM (Indonesia)Syngenta Nairobi (East Africa)

Problem?Database, tables, spreadsheets, GRIDB, netCDF, images, binary, servers, OpenDAP, THREDDS, shapefile

Informed action by decision-maker

Generate knowledge

Access to knowledge

Solution!Data Library TechnologySemantics Framework

Ingrid Data LanguageIRI science

Internet-based technologyServing dataMaprooms

MaproomsTraining toolTechnology Transfer

Barriers: Technology constraints

Barriers: Access in relevant and timely manner

Barriers: Uptake of Climate Information

Resources and Funding• CCAFS• CSIRO• IICA – INMET• NASA• NIH• NOAA• NSF• RISE• Uruguay Ministry of Agriculture• USAID CCRD• USAID E3• USAID IFAD• USAID UPLBFI

New Challenges and Vision

• A community of Data Library Developers Worldwide who address data issues, tool development, etc.

• Stronger semantic framework to allow more automatic analyses

• Better management of provenance of any analysis and graphics for accurate referencing

• Introduce parallel computation to improve efficiency• Solid work done to disseminate public health

information: pursue the same for Agriculture, Water Management, etc.

Ingridly yours