Using information and computing system "climate" to raise awareness among the population and decision makers about regional effects of climate change

Abstract

The effects of global climate change will be most dramatic in the vast Russian territory. According to the Hydrometeorological Center of Russia, there is an increase in the magnitude and frequency of extreme weather events, as well as in their damage to the ecosystems and infrastructure. To develop adaptation to climate change and mitigation of its consequences, it is necessary to promote and support activities aimed at reducing possible risks. However, there is insufficient awareness and lack of scientific background among decision-makers. Persons responsible for making decisions, stakeholders, and the general public do not often have skills and knowledge to work with climate data to elaborate an adaptation and sustainable development strategy. Some new sections of a web-system, "Climate", are tailored to provide these groups with tools, skills, and thematic information for understanding climate processes occurring in their region. A course is developed where basic concepts are explained in detail for the general public. A climate characteristics database for decision-makers is created to obtain calculated fields of the indices describing spatial distributions of extreme values of meteorological characteristics for the territory of Siberia. For work with any of the indices, it is possible to download the database in various formats for use in various desktop GIS systems.