Overview of the West African monsoon 2011

Although the 2011 West African monsoon (WAM) season was, overall, near normal, rainfall was patchy. The irregularity of the rainfall during the crucial July-August-September (JAS) season proved difficult to predict - highlighting the significant challenges we continue to face for this region. The vagaries of the rainfall in sub-Saharan Africa have profound and often dire effects on African society and economy. To reduce the vulnerability of African communities to variations in the strength of the WAM, the scientific community needs to improve the reliability of forecasts so as to enable forward planning, and national governments need to adopt coordinated policies in order to increase their capacity to cope with extended periods of water shortages due to drought. With the launch of the Africa Climate Exchange (Afclix), the UK and African climate communies are working with both the humanitarian sector and policy-makers to channel the latest climate science into policy. Such policies have the potential to build resilience and in-country capacity for climate compatible development in sub-Saharan Africa. The emphasis is on ‘feet on the (African) ground’ mechanisms of knowledge-sharing activities at the science-policy interface

Climate Information for Development: An Integrated Dissemination Model

This paper describes a new conceptual model of climate research and seasonal forecast dissemination for West Africa. The model was developed through a survey of 600 climate information end-users and 27 organisations in four West African countries – Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Nigeria. Despite significant advances in climate research and climate forecasting, the majority of African countries continue to suffer the full impacts of climate variability with serious adverse implications for economic growth and development. These countries are yet to experience the benefits of climate research for mitigating impacts.The major challenge is lack of access to, and ability to respond to, climate research information by both vulnerable groups and institutions and agencies charged with managing the impacts of climate variability. Additionally funding agencies outside the continent drive much of the research on African climate dynamics. Indeed few African countries have the resources, technical expertise and, in some cases, political commitment to give the necessary priority to climateand environmental research. Therefore, it is important to develop innovative strategies that allow them to take advantage of the results of climate research. The proposed model consists of a regional archive and database for all research related to West African climate variability. The goal is to improve access to emerging research findings and technologies and to avoid duplication of efforts. A second major component includes an institute dedicated to the testing,validation and adaptation of research for practical applications under local conditions. The model illustrates clearly the pathways of climate research information flow and linkages between the research community, policy makers, the media and end-users. Although based on research in West Africa, the model can easily be adapted for other parts of Africa

RAINWATCH handbook: a step by step guide to using RAINWATCH, version 1.0

The RAINWATCH Handbook has been designed to help RAINWATCH users navigate the web-based RAINWATCH system. Examples of use include policy discussions within the MoFA (Ministry of Food and Agriculture) to discuss with crop scientists, extension officers and farmers the implications of the RAINWATCH information to improve decision-making through the season. Farmers who are practicing rain-fed or irrigated agriculture require timely, accurate season-to-date and forward looking rainfall information for planning purposes. Another example of use could be to improve information provided to farmers via radio or via NGO activities that require weather information for their projects. The Handbookl includes a series of easy to follow step-by-step visuals based on the RAINWATCH training presentations to help new users/priducers of information understand the different views and content to make informed selections of the available content for their decision use cases

2024 State of the University Address

Annual address delivered by the president of Illinois State University discussing the university\u27s accomplishments and plans for the future.https://ir.library.illinoisstate.edu/state-of-the-university/1056/thumbnail.jp

2023 State of the University Address

Annual address delivered by the president of Illinois State University discussing the university\u27s accomplishments and plans for the future.https://ir.library.illinoisstate.edu/state-of-the-university/1050/thumbnail.jp

Karst processes on Cayman Brac, a small oceanic carbonate island

Cayman Brac is a good example of a small oceanic carbonate island which has undergone several periods ofsubmergence and emergence since the Tertiary, resulting in the geological formations being well karstified. This study investigated several karst phenomena on the island including the occurrence and morphology of caves, the water chemistry and microclimate inside the caves, periods ofspeleothem growth and dissolution, and bell holes. Caves occur throughout the island at various elevations above sea level. Using elevation as a criterion, the caves were divided into Notch caves, located at, or one - two metres above, the Sangamon Notch, and Upper caves, located at varying elevations above the Notch. Analysis ofthe morphology, age and the relative abundance of speleothem in the caves further supports this division. The close proximity of the Notch and the Notch caves is coincidental: speleothem dating by U-series methods shows that the caves predate the Notch. They are believed to have formed between 1400 and 400 ka, whereas a late Tertiary to Early Quaternary age is assigned to the Upper caves. Speleothem on the island has suffered minor, moderate and major dissolution. Minor dissolution is due to a change in the degree of saturation of the drip water feeding the speleothem, whereas the last two are caused by flooding or condensation corrosion. Many of the speleothems in fact experienced several episodes ofdissolution followed by regrowth. The latest episode appears to be caused by condensation corrosion rather than flooding. Eleven speleothems containing growth hiatuses were dated by U-series methods. The results indicate that growth cessation did not occur synchronously. Furthermore, the timing of the hiatuses during the Quaternary is not restricted to glacial or interglacial periods. Oxygen and carbon stable isotope analyses ofseven ofthe samples reveal an apparent shift towards a drier and walmer climate around 120 ka. However, more data and further collaborative evidence is desirable. Of six samples with hiatuses, five show a bi-modal distribution of stable isotope values: before and after the hiatus. Oxygen isotope analyses of modern drip water found inter-sample variations of over 2 %. This is due to cave environmental factors such as evaporation, infiltration velocity and roof thickness. Inside the caves δ¹⁸O of drip water decreases with increasing distance from the entrance and thus decreasing external climatic influence. This distance-climatic effect is also reflected in the δ¹⁸O calculated for modem calcite: -5.3, -6.5 and -7.6 % VPDB at 3, 10 and 20 m respectively. The morphology of bell holes, found only in certain Notch caves, was studied in detail. It is proposed that the bell holes are formed by condensation corrosion, probably enhanced by microbiological activity. The study represents a comprehensive and thorough analyses of karst features on a small oceanic island, and provides information useful for climatic reconstruction during the Quaternary.Doctor of Philosophy (PhD

Redbird Buzz Episode 8: Aondover Tarhule, August 2022

Interview with interim president, Dr. Aondover Tarhule. The interview was conducted by John Twork from University Marketing and Communication in August 2022 for the Illinois State University Redbird Buzz podcast