At this stage we all know the context, and I don’t think there is a need for extra explanations. So let me be as brief as possible. Drought. Big city. Disaster management plan. Day Zero. Everyone blames everyone. There. You have it. From my perspective (rooted in data and facts) the time has come to… Read more »
Are Droughts Predictable? Head over to this ARTICLE featured in The Conversation by our very own Piotr Wolski, Bruce Hewitson and Chris Jack. The forecast probability associated with above-normal and below-normal rainfall for 2016 (upper panels) and 2017 (lower panels).
Why is it that, in our experience, African countries are thirsty for knowledge on how the climate may be changing in their context? Why is it that we very seldom encounter an air of scepticism when working in African countries? Why is it that when we reach out to engage with African countries about climate… Read more »
The ACCESS Winter Rainfall Summit May 2017 On 15 May 2017, a blisteringly hot day (32°C at the nearby South African Astronomical Observatory weather station), ACCESS held a Winter Rainfall Summit at the National Geo-spatial Information meeting room in Mowbray. For the morning sessions a collection of scientists working on variability/predictability of winter rainfall… Read more »
Working in the area of Adaptation, Impacts and Vulnerability (AIV), I tend to feel like we are locked into a paradigm from which we are unable to escape – at least not at speed. We are chipping away at small pieces of the system, changing a bolt here, greasing up the chain there, however… Read more »
The Drought… Everyone in the Cape must be acutely aware of the drought by now. Yes… we’re in the middle of it… Perhaps the idea has not fully crystallized in the minds of a couple of thirsty dwellers of Claremont and Constantia, who still guzzle 2-3 thousand of liters of water per person per day… Read more »
On the 27th July 2017 CSAG celebrated our 25 Year anniversary and officially launched as a University of Cape Town Research Centre. Over a relaxed breakfast event we were joined by a large number of our CSAG colleagues, affiliates and friends. Special attendees and guest speakers included Professor Anton le Roex (Dean of UCT Science Faculty), Dr…. Read more »
By Chris Lennard An ancient proverb says that there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. I am very fortunate to have a friend of some 20 years like this. I am known as his “Ugly twin brother Chris” and likewise he is my “Ugly twin brother Bruce”. He is married to “my… Read more »
There is no need to remind that Cape Town’s water supply situation is dire. We have level 4 water restrictions in place, water storage levels are extremely low and alternative short-term and long-term water sources are actively being sought by the city’s government – solutions such as funding a set of temporary desalination plants, and… Read more »