Performance of bias corrected MPEG rainfall estimate for rainfall-runoff simulation in the upper Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia

In many developing countries and remote areas of important ecosystems, good quality precipitation data are neither available nor readily accessible. Satellite observations and processing algorithms are being extensively used to produce satellite rainfall products (SREs). Nevertheless, these products are prone to systematic errors and need extensive validation before to be usable for streamflow simulations. In this study, we investigated and corrected the bias of Multi-Sensor Precipitation Estimate–Geostationary (MPEG) data. The corrected MPEG dataset was used as input to a semi-distributed hydrological model Hydrologiska Byråns Vattenbalansavdelning (HBV) for simulation of discharge of the Gilgel Abay and Gumara watersheds in the Upper Blue Nile basin, Ethiopia. The result indicated that the MPEG satellite rainfall captured 81% and 78% of the gauged rainfall variability with a consistent bias of underestimating the gauged rainfall by 60%. A linear bias correction applied significantly reduced the bias while maintaining the coefficient of correlation. The simulated flow using bias corrected MPEG SRE resulted in a simulated flow comparable to the gauge rainfall for both watersheds. The study indicated the potential of MPEG SRE in water budget studies after applying a linear bias correction

IGL-1 solution reduces endoplasmic reticulum stress and apoptosis in rat liver transplantation

Injury due to cold ischemia reperfusion (I/R) is a major cause of primary graft non-function following liver transplantation. We postulated that I/R-induced cellular damage during liver transplantation might affect the secretory pathway, particularly at the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). We examined the involvement of ER stress in organ preservation, and compared cold storage in University of Wisconsin (UW) solution and in Institute Georges Lopez-1 (IGL-1) solution. In one group of rats, livers were preserved in UW solution for 8 h at 4 °C, and then orthotopic liver transplantation was performed according to Kamada's cuff technique. In another group, livers were preserved in IGL-1 solution. The effect of each preservation solution on the induction of ER stress, hepatic injury, mitochondrial damage and cell death was evaluated. As expected, we found increased ER stress after liver transplantation. IGL-1 solution significantly attenuated ER damage by reducing the activation of three pathways of unfolded protein response and their effector molecules caspase-12, C/EBP homologous protein-10, X-box-binding protein 1, tumor necrosis factor-associated factor 2 and eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2. This attenuation of ER stress was associated with a reduction in hepatic injury and cell death. Our results show that IGL-1 solution may be a useful means to circumvent excessive ER stress reactions associated with liver transplantation, and may optimize graft quality

ITC Geonetcast - toolbox approach for less developed countries

Through GEOSS, by means of GEONETCast, data has come within reach of users anywhere on the globe. If no efficient processing tools are available the full strength of the system might not be utilized by non-meteorological organizations in less developed countries dealing with geo-spatial temporal data analysis. Here the freeware toolbox developed, to handle and process multiple data sets from the GEONETCast dissemination system, is discussed. Efficient processing tools are required to incorporate the data and make it available to improve national and regional policy and (timely) decision making for a better management of the natural resources and face the challenges posed by sustainable development. A number of examples are provided demonstrating the versatile nature of the toolbox processing capability using the (near real-time) data available through GEONETCast. The examples shown are highly relevant with respect to e.g. environmental monitoring and provide meaningful information to assess flood, drought and agricultural conditions, all of which are currently major issues in many regions around the world, especially in Africa. 1

The DevCoCast project – Applications for environmental and agricultural monitoring and impact on decision making processes in Latin America

Many Latin American countries face serious environmental risks and need accurate Earth Observation (EO) data and derived environmental information for their sustainable development. GEONETCast provides reliable, fast and low cost access to such EO products. The GEONETCast for and by Developing Countries (DevCoCast) project, funded by the European Community‟s 7 th Framework Programme for Research (FP7) involves developing countries more closely in the GEONETCast initiative. Many EO data products, some produced in Latin America and Africa, are freely shared via GEONETCast. These products can be received using simple and low cost ground reception infrastructure. More importantly, the actual use of the products by a broad user community is supported through training and building on the existing networks and capacities. This is done across continents and application themes such as vegetation and agriculture, fires and floods, water resources and ocean and weather/climate. The goal is to embed GEONETCast and the data it offers into research, environmental monitoring and planning, and decision making processes, in support of sustainable development. This paper presents a few examples of the integration of operationally received DevCoCast and other GEONETCast data into decision making processes in Latin America, with focus on environmental and agricultural monitoring.Pages: 93-10

Use of geoinformatics for inter-basin water transfer assessment

Fresh water availability and demand are unevenly distributed both temporally and geographically. Furthermore, the availability of fresh water has remained more or less constant, while the demand for clean water is steadily increasing. With demand surpassing supply, an integrated water resource management approach is required to ensure even distribution of potable water to all levels of society while protecting the environment. Inter-basin water transfer (IBWT) is an approach being applied in various countries around the world, with varying environmental and social implications. The Interlinking of Rivers (ILR) scheme is an example of such a project being planned in India. The research described in this paper was based on the ILR project and includes an assessment of the IBWT programme in some of the tributaries of the Brahmaputra and Ganga Rivers in the eastern part of India, covering the district of Jalpaiguri, West Bengal, India. Geoinformation has been used in association with physical and socio-economic factors to identify potential dam and reservoir sites and to delineate the optimal route for canals to transfer water from the Brahmaputra basin to the Ganga basin for further transportation to the water-deficient regions of India

Devcocast in Support of Environmental Management and Sustainable Development in Africa

The recently initiated project ¿GEONETCast for and by Developing Countries¿ (DevCoCast) project, supported by the 7th Framework Programme (FP7) of the European Community, will bring together many disparate sources of environmental information and improve the involvement of Developing Countries in the GEONETCast component of the global GEO System of Systems (GEOSS). Many Developing Countries are exposed to serious environmental risks and their need for adequate information is high. Unfortunately, reliable and continuous access to real time environmental information is often lacking. The GEONETCast concept overcomes existing data delivery limitations and is able to provide reliable and fast access to (near real-time) environmental information. The main objectives of the DevCoCast project are to disseminate existing environmental added-value datasets (both in-situ and satellite based) from various sources in Africa, South- and Central America and Europe in (near) real time and at no cost via GEONETCast to a broad range of user communities in Developing Countries. It furthermore promotes and supports the use of the GEONETCast system. By utilizing the existing EUMETCast dissemination system, supporting its expansion to the global scale, and taking direct benefit from the operational infrastructures as well as from well developed user bases in Africa and South-America, the main focus is directed towards the actual use of the data and building-maintaining capacity in Developing Countries.JRC.DDG.H.3-Global environement monitorin

Spatial and temporal assessment of drought in the Northern highlands of Ethiopia

With the development of global changes, researchers from all over the world increasingly pay attention to drought detection, and severe droughts that may have resulted from climate change. In this paper, spatial and temporal variability of drought is evaluated based on precipitation data and remotely sensed images. The standard precipitation index (SPI) and vegetation condition index (VCI) are used to evaluate the spatial and temporal characteristics of meteorological and vegetative drought in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia. Based on the drought critical values of SPI and VCI defining drought, the spatial and temporal extent of droughts in the study area is established. We processed 396 decadal images in order to produce the multi-temporal VCI drought maps. The results of the SPI and VCI analysis reveal that the eastern and southern zones of the study region suffered a recurrent cycle of drought over the last decade. Results further show that there is a time lag between the period of the peak VCI and precipitation values obtained from the meteorological stations across the study area. A significant agreement was observed between VCI values with the current plus last two-months of precipitation. The study demonstrates the utility of the vegetation condition index in semi-arid and arid regions