Project SASSCAL: Southern African Science Service Centre for Climate Change and Adaptive Land Management; topic: Support for SASSCAL Science Services - module A: WeatherNet - module B: ObservationNet - module C: Support for organisational strengthening of SASSCAL

Abstract

SASSCAL Module A WeatherNet: The SASSCAL WeatherNet was established to complement the existing national weather networks in the SASSCAL countries of Southern Africa and to provide an open online weather data source for research and decision-making processes. The project built the necessary capacity to operate the WeatherNet system (http://sasscalweathernet.org) at the SASSCAL Open Access Data Centre (OADC). The system was successfully transferred from the University of Hamburg to SASSCAL OADC and full responsibility for its operation now lies with SASSCAL Regional Secretariat OADC. In addition, several enhancements have been developed to allow optimised access to and use of the WeatherNet data SASSCAL Module B ObservationNet: The project addresses the impacts of climate change and land use on biodiversity and ecosystems. For this purpose, biodiversity changes were documented in an established network of standardised long-term study plots in Angola, Namibia and South Africa using modern recording methods. Accompanying experimental approaches evaluate biodiversity-controlling management measures. The findings are made available to the scientific community, local decision-makers and the interested public. The project has contributed to the education and training of young African and German scientists and local decision-makers. SASSCAL Module C Support for organisational strengthening of SASSCAL: The project aims to take all necessary steps and arrangements to strengthen SASSCAL in terms of systems and human capital to enable it to achieve its goals as a regional science service centre. Main outcomes are: Support to administrative operations, establishment and implementation of the SASSCAL OADC at the Regional Secretariat, transfer and operating of the SASSCAL WeatherNet, development of new products and services, launch of a new SASSCAL Graduate School, coordination and support of other research activities (including implementation of the SASSCAL 2.0 Research Call) and expansion of strategic partnerships.

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