University of Nebraska researchers want to know whether drought and climate change can predict social unrest. The National Drought Mitigation Center at UNL received a million-dollar grant from the U.S Air Force Weather Agency the help out.Many researchers believe severe drought in Syria between 2006 and 2009 was a factor in that country’s uprising and civil war in 2011.But for the first time, Nebraska scientists are looking for proof of a link between weather, climate and social unrest.”There’s a real gap. I think this project begins to address that gap,” said Mark Svoboda, the center’s director.The center has closely monitored precipitation in the U.S. for nearly three decades, providing an early warning system to build resilience.Svoboda wants to expand this globally. With the ultimate goal of developing a hotspot map for drought where we feel these areas could see these sort of factors bubbling up if you will, due to a combination about the physical drought side of the equation, and then the underlying risk and vulnerability side of the equation,” Svoboda said.They will partner with social scientists and civil and environmental engineers to see if they can predict potential future conflicts.”Once we build this historical archive, we can go back and look at past droughts and kind of track it and monitor and look at okay, these areas that were at risk, how did they behave during these drought events in the past?” Svoboda said. The idea is to be proactive both around the world and here at home.”Use that information to get ahead of the problem and not just reacting to the problem,” Svoboda said.He said that could mean anticipating where to send equipment, goods and humanitarian aid. Svoboda points out that food shortages and disruptions are not just some other country’s problems.”When you look at the food chain, it’s globally connected. And so we’re not immune to that here even in our country,” Svoboda said.The first phase will develop the global composite drought indicator using on-the-ground sensors and satellite sensing data.The second phase will study the socioeconomic indicators of specific regions that could be affected by drought.The center is already applying for additional funds to extend the program for two more years.Watch the video above for the full story.
University of Nebraska researchers want to know whether drought and climate change can predict social unrest.
The National Drought Mitigation Center at UNL received a million-dollar grant from the U.S Air Force Weather Agency the help out.
Many researchers believe severe drought in Syria between 2006 and 2009 was a factor in that country’s uprising and civil war in 2011.
But for the first time, Nebraska scientists are looking for proof of a link between weather, climate and social unrest.
“There’s a real gap. I think this project begins to address that gap,” said Mark Svoboda, the center’s director.
The center has closely monitored precipitation in the U.S. for nearly three decades, providing an early warning system to build resilience.
Svoboda wants to expand this globally.
With the ultimate goal of developing a hotspot map for drought where we feel these areas could see these sort of factors bubbling up if you will, due to a combination about the physical drought side of the equation, and then the underlying risk and vulnerability side of the equation,” Svoboda said.
They will partner with social scientists and civil and environmental engineers to see if they can predict potential future conflicts.
“Once we build this historical archive, we can go back and look at past droughts and kind of track it and monitor and look at okay, these areas that were at risk, how did they behave during these drought events in the past?” Svoboda said.
The idea is to be proactive both around the world and here at home.
“Use that information to get ahead of the problem and not just reacting to the problem,” Svoboda said.
He said that could mean anticipating where to send equipment, goods and humanitarian aid.
Svoboda points out that food shortages and disruptions are not just some other country’s problems.
“When you look at the food chain, it’s globally connected. And so we’re not immune to that here even in our country,” Svoboda said.
The first phase will develop the global composite drought indicator using on-the-ground sensors and satellite sensing data.
The second phase will study the socioeconomic indicators of specific regions that could be affected by drought.
The center is already applying for additional funds to extend the program for two more years.
Watch the video above for the full story.
