The Global Open Science Cloud: Vision and Initial Successes

The Global Open Science Cloud has the potential to advance the way scientific data and resources are shared and accessed, and how global collaboration happens. However, addressing the challenges associated with its creation and ensuring inclusivity, interoperability, data privacy, and sustainability are crucial for its success. The collaborative efforts of stakeholders from different disciplines, regions, and sectors will be essential in realising the vision of a truly global and open science platform. The achievements of GOSC so far, including successful collaborations, funded projects, and the development of a common reference framework, demonstrate its potential and progress towards its goals

Sustainable development goals for reducing the impact of sea level rise on mangrove forests

Fakhruddin, B., Mahalingam, R., & Padmanaban, R. (2018). Sustainable development goals for reducing the impact of sea level rise on mangrove forests. Indian Journal of Geo-Marine Sciences, 47(10), 1947-1958.Present study analyses techniques in Remote Sensing (RS) and spatial data in studying the effects of Sea Level Rise (SLR) in the Sundarbans mangrove forest. Its importance in restoring and protecting mangroves is reflected most clearly in Sustainable Development Goal (SDG). Three parameters, including distribution of species, increases in sedimentation, salinity, and flooded areas were analyzed using RS. Data acquired from Landsat Thematic Mapper and field investigations were used to map the forest distribution and MIKE21 and MIKE11 software used to simulate sea level rise scenarios. The analysis showed an increase in the prevalence of Goran (Ceriops) replacing other mangrove species. We also identified there is an upsurge in sedimentation within the Sundarbans is likely to increase with SLR, particularly in river floodplains and increase flood frequency. This will also have salinity intrusion impacts in near future. Our results inform mangrove forest management and sustainable experts about the sedimentation and salt water intrusion spots and priority mitigation areas from mangrove species degradation in Sundarbans mangrove forest.publishersversionpublishe

Seeking Shelter: The factors that influence refuge since Cyclone Gorky in the Coastal Area of Bangladesh

Considering damage and loss of lives, cyclones are the most severe natural disaster in Bangladesh. One of the most important cyclone mitigation measures is to temporarily evacuate the vulnerable population on receipt of warning and look after them by arranging shelters with adequate facilities. To ensure effective and efficient evacuation, it is important to better understand people's protective actions and hazard decision making. This paper provides an assessment of the factors associated with evacuation to cyclone shelters in coastal areas in Bangladesh over the past 30 years. It is based on the comparative study of Cyclone Amphan (2020) and three major historical cyclones: Gorky (1991), Sidr (2007) and Aila (2009). Primary data sources included surveys, focus group discussions, key informant interviews and formal and informal conversations; and secondary data sources included reports, policies and design documents. 210 participants from seven coastal districts severely affected by Cyclone Amphan are selected for the study. While substantial improvements in the disaster response infrastructure were made in the last three decades, shelter evacuation rates are still low. It was found that the majority of people are still taking a ‘wait-and-see’ approach mainly due to the fear of losing property. It was found that partial evacuation, observing environmental cues prior to evacuation and seeking refuge in neighbours' houses, is indirectly associated with the fear of losing property. There is also inadequate spatial distribution of cyclone shelters with minimal facilities. This study provides recommendations to intensify risk-based planning for cyclone shelters and gender-responsive efforts to ensure a safe environment for the community to seek refuge at shelters with proper planning at the community level

Preferences for improved early warning services among coastal communities at risk in cyclone prone south-west region of Bangladesh

Cyclone early warning systems are the primary sources of information that enable people to develop a preparedness strategy to mitigate the hazards of cyclones to lives and livelihoods. In Bangladesh, cyclone early warnings have significantly decreased the number of cyclone related fatalities over the last two decades. Nevertheless, several challenges remain for existing early warning services (EWS), urging for both technical and non-technical improvements in the said services. Given limited financial resources, the economic efficiency assessment of the improvement is highly important. Therefore, this study aims to estimate the willingness to pay (WTP) for improved warning services by considering the at-risk households' trade-off between proposed improved EWS and existing EWS in coastal Bangladesh. Applying systematic random sampling, 490 respondent households were selected from Khulna, Satkhira, and Barguna districts, with whom a choice experiment (CE) was performed. The CE was designed by incorporating impact-based scenarios for improved EWS. As analytical tools, Conditional and Mixed-Logistic regression models were used that derived the WTP for improved EWS attributes. Empirical results show that the WTP of an at-risk household for improved EWS was estimated at Bangladeshi Taka BDT 468 (≈ US$ 5.57) per year, implying respondents were ready to pay for the improvement of the warning attributes, including precise information of the cyclones landfall time with possible impacts, more frequent radio forecasts, and voice messages in the local dialects over mobile phones. A revenue stream for improved EWS was developed, implying investments in EWS would be a no-regrets approach. This study concludes with four policy recommendations on mitigating the existing challenges for improving EWS in Bangladesh