Call For Participation in Regional Workshop On Hydro-Meteorological Observation Networks

WASCAL invites you to its Regional Workshop on Hydro-Meteorological Observation Networks: Status quo and Perspectives schedule for the 3^rd and 4^th of November 2020.

The principal objective of this workshop is to discuss the regional perspectives for near surface observations, the contribution of WASCAL and prospective to filling major gaps.

With high exposure to adverse effects of Climate Change in West Africa, WASCAL, in collaboration with its member countries, is working to ensure availability of climate data to support research, education, services development, and capacity building.

Still in the vision of strengthening infrastructural capacity and closing the hydroclimate data gaps of the region, WASCAL, through funding from Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) now acquired fifty (50) Automatic Water Level gauges (AWLS) and ten (10) Automatic Water Quality sensors (AWQS), for the benefit of its members-countries. This also gives WASCAL the opportunity to establish a transboundary hydrological observations network in the image of the transboundary climate observatory network.

For details and participation, please click this link below:

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Regional Workshop on Hydro-Meteorological Observation Networks: Status Quo And Perspectives

Dear Distinguished Guests/Participants,

WASCAL has three research catchments and pilot sites (in Burkina Faso, Ghana and Benin) equipped with various hydro-meteorological sensors. WASCAL also developed strong transboundary climate observatory networks with national Hydro Met agencies/services in the eleven member countries in which 50 Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) were installed to strengthen and reinforce regional hydro-meteorological data availability in West Africa. Still in the vision of strengthening infrastructural capacity and closing the hydroclimate data gaps of the region, WASCAL, through funding from Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) now acquired fifty (50) Automatic Water Level gauges (AWLS) and ten (10) Automatic Water Quality sensors (AWQS), for the benefit of its members-countries. This also gives WASCAL the opportunity to establish a transboundary hydrological observations network in the image of the transboundary climate observatory network.

Objectives

The overall objective of this workshop is to discuss the regional perspectives for near surface observations, the contribution of WASCAL and prospective to filling major gaps. The workshop will be in two folds, technical workshop and science policy dialogue.

The specific objectives for the technical workshop are to:

inform stakeholder on the status- quo analysis of hydro-meteorological observation networks in the region
discuss WASCAL’s contribution and its roadmap for the dispatching and installation of the already acquired AHS in the member countries
envision regional perspectives for near surface observation networks in the region

The specific objectives for the science policy dialogue will be as follows:

To discuss the state of art of Hydro meteorological equipment and Hydromet Data management for the region
To discuss the sustainability strategies for the transboundary measurement equipment
To commission the facility

Registration

We kindly require you to register before, 27^th October 2020, using the following registration link here.

Data Protection Statement and Image Disclaimer

In line with WASCAL’s data protection regulation which is also in line with the European General Data Protection Regulation, it is guaranteed that your personal data cannot and will not be used without your consent. By registering to attend the Regional Workshop on Hydro Meteorological Observation, we would kindly ask you to contact us directly by mail to diallo.b@wascal.org or salack.s@wascal.org, if you do not want to give your consent.

Short online profile

During the online registration process, you will be asked to provide your contact details (first name, last name, email, phone numbers, address, area of expertise, organization, country, website) only if you wish to have that information be included in the workshop programme and documentation in order to facilitate networking among the participants of the virtual meeting.

Beware that the workshop will be recorded and may make use of any document containing your pictures. In case you object to the free use of your image or picture, kindly contact us directly ondiallo.b@wascal.org or salack.s@wascal.org.

Technology

The event will be held as a virtual conference on Zoom platform. We will send you an “Information kit” containing the login data by e-mail on Friday 30th October 2020. Included will be the login data for a technical test to get familiarized with Zoom on2^nd November anytime between 9:00 and 11:00 am (UTC+2) (taking into consideration your availability during that timeframe) and the actual meeting date. We recommend using a headset and a computer/laptop with camera as well as a wireless or LAN connection. Incase of poor connectivity, you are advised to kindly go to the WASCAL Graduate School in your country for a better participation. The organizers will provide you with the Graduate school contacts upon request.

Technical test

You will be required to log-in on 3^rdNovember 2020 between 8:00 and 8:30 (UTC) or 10:00-10:30 (German Time, UTC+2) am for a short 5-10 min video, audio, and equipment test. It is important that the test is done under the same conditions in which you plan to participate in the virtual meeting on the following two days.

Programme

The online conference will take place on Tuesday, 3^rdNovemberand Wednesday 4^th November from 9:00am to 12Noon (UTC+2). The Zoom conference room will be available from 8.30 am each day onward to allow the participants to connect and run through last technical checks.

Logistical Note

The information kit with the login data and further logistical information along with the final programme will be sent to you by Friday, 30th October 2020.