CAZALAC - Centro del Agua para Zonas Aridas de ALC

Project to Prepare a Map of Arid, Semi-Arid and Sub-Humid Zones in LAC

Project Scope – Participating Countries and Roles - Methodology – Activity Schedule –
CIRH Software - Forum
On line publication of the first version of Map of Arid Zones in LAC - (click here)

Form to Request Access to Data.

Activity Schedule

	Activity	Output	Responsible	Deadline
0	Way and strategies to compile data and form up the database by country	Report: indicating that data and indicators are delivered in CIRH format & contact name	Coordinator in each country	June 10
1	Identify stations (including model stations) by country and the relevant geo-referenced location	BDMP + climate	Coordinator in each country	August 30
2	Base map to localize stations by country – SIG lat-long coordinates	Base map	Coordinator in each country	August 30
3	Determination of model stations’ representative areas	Map	Coordinator in each country	August 30
4	Standardizing and formatting BDM (CIRH) with basic data (monthly climate averages)	EXCEL file with CIRH format	Coordinator in each country	September 10
5	Operation of CIRH and creation of derived variables (all the indexes generated by CIRH) in the BDI by country. Forward them to Dr. Fernando Santibañez and CAZALAC	BDI	Coordinator in each country	September 30
6	Standardizing and formatting BDM (CIRH) with monthly rainfall series (30 years: 1970-2000, if possible)	EXCEL file with CIRH format	Coordinator in each country	September 30
7	Operation of CIRH and creation of derived variables (all the indexes generated by CIRH) in the BDI by country. Forward them to Dr. Fernando Santibañez and CAZALAC	BDI	Coordinator in each country	October 10
8	Forwarding information to CAZALAC	EXCEL file with CIRH format for the sub-region	Coordinator in each country / Sub-Regional Coordinator.	October 15
9	First version of a sub-regional map	Preliminary map of the sub-region	Regional coordinator	November 15
10	Revision of the preliminary South America sub-regional map. Exchange and feedback among countries (electronic forum)		Sub-Regional Coordinator and countries’ coordinators	December 15
11	Preparation of the final sub-regional map	Final version of sub-regional map	Regional coordinator /cub-regional coordinator	January 5, 2006
12	Publication and dissemination		Regional coordinator and CAZALAC	March 1, 2006

BDMP : Monthly precipitation database
BDM : Monthly climate database
BDI : Complete database. Considers BDM plus every index generated by CIRH.
CIRH : Climate data management and processing system, prepared by Dr. Fernando Santibañez, AGRIMED - Chile.

Recommendations:

Take the map to cartographic institutions in each country
Involve students that are preparing their grade projects in the map development process
Exercise the methodology at each country level in order to acquire thorough knowledge
When needed, establish synergies among institutions that can contribute basic information
Use at least 10 model stations
Use regional and sub-regional mechanisms that may provide support to the process
Use current water balance developments to generate a first version of the map by country, when possible
Each model station must have the following information at a monthly climate average level:

Monthly maximum and minimum temperature (at least ten years)
Relative humidity (at least ten years)
Solar radiation and number of hours of sunlight (at least five years)
Wind speed and route (at least five years)
Precipitation, at least ten years

The monthly rainfall series must show at least thirty years, if possible; series may be completed with as many stations as each country deems necessary to represent the different precipitation conditions.