ECUADORIAN NATIONAL CLIMATE OUTLOOK FORUM (NCOF)
OBJECTIVES To present the official seasonal forecast issued by the National Meteorological and Hydrological Service of Ecuador (INAMHI). This also included the analysis of the current and expected conditions related with El Niño/La Niña. To raise awareness about projects, technical studies and research efforts performed at INAMHI. To foster the participation of local experts, research community, NGOs as presenters of different topics depending the city where the NCOF is hosted: agroclimatology, urban climate, climate-health, climate change, climate-energy, among others.
PERFORMING THE NCOF Since August 2010 for twice a month INAMHI with the support of the National Risk Management Secretary has implemented the NCOF in all the geographic regions across the country. In these fora, INAMHI has raised awareness among different levels of users and informed about the weather, climate and hydrological services available as well as the different projects, research initiatives and opportunities to work together with universities, NGOs and the private sector. The agend included also a discussion on the expected impacts, risk management actions and strategies of the different sectors to cope with the climate conditions. All the NCOF discussions intend to be in a very friendly and colloquial language giving space for discussion and feedback to local participants. As final outcome a set of recommendations for different users is agreed in the final statement of the NCOF which is distributed to participants and posted at INAMHI web site.
PRODUCTS Seasonal (3 months) Rainfall Forecasts and Air Temperature (maximun and minimun) Forecasts.
PRODUCTS CPT is used for seasonal outlook
LESSONS LEARNED AND RECOMMENDATIONS NCOF is contributing to develop a common understanding of climate knowledge at local level in Ecuador. NCOF have demonstrated to be a motivation for multidisciplinary approach to risk management, by the timely delivery and discussion of climate outlooks. More than 100 NCOFs with the participation of 5000 people has raised the visibility of INAMHI across Ecuador and promote the use and application of its products and services.
LESSONS LEARNED AND RECOMMENDATIONS NCOF is co-organized with the National Risk management authority then, the use and application of the climate information provided is direct and effective. NCOF is expanding the range of users of climate information in the different sectors and improving the application on benefit of the society.
THANKS Raúl Mejía MSc. Regional Director of the Guayas River Basin National Meteorological an Hidrological Service (INAMHI) ECUADOR More information about NCOF in Ecuador is available at : www.serviciometeorologico.gob.ec/foros-climaticos/