A web-based dissemination platform for climate-change risk and vulnerability

Abstract

Climate change poses a major threat to environmental sustainability. In Africa, sectors which face projected vulnerability include, food security, public health and water resources. A general increase in extreme weather events is also predicted and the effects thereof are beginning to be felt. In order for responsible parties and stake holders to respond to these threats, research needs to be undertaken to understand the effects of climate change. Consequently, data has to be available for such research. The rapid advance in computer technology has led to heavy reliance on digital predictive modelling and digital data dissemination which have both been leveraged in this project. We present data sets of predicted climate-change variables, over selected urban regions of the African continent from six different types of models, which constitute a novel research resource. These datasets can be used in a host of further studies on how to address effects of climate change and can help stake-holders undertake preventative measures. We further present data dissemination technologies based on web based Open Standards for easy and free access of selected datasets from the implemented models. The advantage we provide with web based methods of data access is that the user does not need to store the whole host of datasets that they require for research, but can rather query and access selected portions of the data. We provide the user with a platform to save the downloaded data in any of the selected data formats, on the fly, over web based protocols and requests. We also provide the user with the option of viewing time series of data on user selected locations dynamically without the need to save the data. The user has the ability to view datasets of projected data as maps which can be saved for future use.