““Kick Off Meeting”Kick Off Meeting”

Instituto Franco-Argentino sobreInstituto Franco-Argentino sobreEstudios de Clima y sus Impactos.Estudios de Clima y sus Impactos.

  Institut Franco-Argentin surInstitut Franco-Argentin surle Climat et ses Impacts.le Climat et ses Impacts.

November 4 and 5, 2010November 4 and 5, 2010

CONICET, Buenos Aires, ArgentinaCONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina

M. NuñezM. Nuñez

Creation of the UMICreation of the UMI

By agreement between the CNRS from France By agreement between the CNRS from France and CONICET and the University of Buenos and CONICET and the University of Buenos Aires from Argentina.Aires from Argentina.

The main institutions by the CNRS is the The main institutions by the CNRS is the “Institut National des Sciences de l“Institut National des Sciences de l´Univers”, as principal institution, and the ´Univers”, as principal institution, and the “Institut d´Ecologie et Environnement” as “Institut d´Ecologie et Environnement” as secondary institution. secondary institution.

The date of creation is January 1st, 2010 and The date of creation is January 1st, 2010 and the initial duration of the UMI is of 4 years. the initial duration of the UMI is of 4 years. The UMI will be evaluated each 4 years, as The UMI will be evaluated each 4 years, as condition for its continuation.condition for its continuation.

Main goal of the UMIMain goal of the UMI

The creation of this UMI aims to The creation of this UMI aims to strengthen and formalizestrengthen and formalize the historic the historic colaboration betweencolaboration between CIMA and the CIMA and the LMD around the issues of LMD around the issues of climate climate variabilityvariability, , climate predictionclimate prediction, , climate climate changechange and extended to the and extended to the evaluation evaluation of the impacts of global changesof the impacts of global changes..

VisionVision

The Franco-Argentine Institute for the The Franco-Argentine Institute for the Study of Climate and its Impacts Study of Climate and its Impacts (IFAECI) is called to be a leader in (IFAECI) is called to be a leader in climate research issues and impacts in climate research issues and impacts in the region of Argentina, MERCOSUR and the region of Argentina, MERCOSUR and South America. This institute can South America. This institute can become a reference in terms of become a reference in terms of interdisciplinary research, in response interdisciplinary research, in response to the needs of society.to the needs of society.

MissionMission The mission of French-Argentine Institute The mission of French-Argentine Institute

is to improve understanding and numerical is to improve understanding and numerical modeling of climate processes (feedback modeling of climate processes (feedback from the oceans, atmosphere, surface from the oceans, atmosphere, surface hydrology and vegetation) in order to hydrology and vegetation) in order to contribute to climate predictions at contribute to climate predictions at different scales, to know the projected different scales, to know the projected climate change scenarios and their climate change scenarios and their uncertainties and quantify the impacts of uncertainties and quantify the impacts of climate variability and change on society.climate variability and change on society.

This mission is achieved through the This mission is achieved through the implementation of actions following two lines:implementation of actions following two lines:

1.1. Encouragement of research in Encouragement of research in numerical modeling of the climate numerical modeling of the climate systemsystem

2.2. Promotion of applied research for Promotion of applied research for solving environmental problems solving environmental problems impacting our society.impacting our society.

Objectives:Objectives:

1. On the numerical modeling:1. On the numerical modeling:

The overall objective of this line will move forward The overall objective of this line will move forward in partnership in partnership on improving climate models and on improving climate models and their componentstheir components. The LMD has extensive . The LMD has extensive experience in this regard and CIMA is the center experience in this regard and CIMA is the center in Argentina with greater capacity for numerical in Argentina with greater capacity for numerical modeling of climate. modeling of climate.

Among the first efforts by the UMI IFAECI Among the first efforts by the UMI IFAECI focus focus should includeshould include the improvement in climate the improvement in climate models representation of clouds and soil models representation of clouds and soil processes.processes.

2. On applications to the solution of 2. On applications to the solution of environmental problemsenvironmental problems

The intention of this line would promote The intention of this line would promote scientific interaction between Argentina and scientific interaction between Argentina and France in order to contribute to:France in order to contribute to:

Developing the scientific basis for a policy of Developing the scientific basis for a policy of adaptation to climate change in Argentina.adaptation to climate change in Argentina.

Develop a system for predicting the weather Develop a system for predicting the weather in Argentina and neighboring regions with in Argentina and neighboring regions with several months in advance and improve several months in advance and improve weather forecasting, with emphasis on weather forecasting, with emphasis on supporting the warnings about possibly supporting the warnings about possibly catastrophic events.catastrophic events.

Drivers issues in climate, environment Drivers issues in climate, environment and society.and society.

Hydrology (Cuenca del Plata, Andean Hydrology (Cuenca del Plata, Andean rivers).rivers).

Agriculture and land use.Agriculture and land use.

Health (epidemics, dengue, yellow Health (epidemics, dengue, yellow fever).fever).

Fisheries and aquaculture.Fisheries and aquaculture.

Proposed themes to be Proposed themes to be discusseddiscussed

The goal of this meeting is to review The goal of this meeting is to review the existing cooperation between the existing cooperation between France and Argentina concerning France and Argentina concerning climate issues, and establish how the climate issues, and establish how the UMI should help its organization and UMI should help its organization and evolution. The discussions will evolution. The discussions will consider, among others, the consider, among others, the followings items:followings items:

Observations, analysis and data assimilation in South Observations, analysis and data assimilation in South America and surrounding oceans - including America and surrounding oceans - including measurement techniques, and the link between measurement techniques, and the link between measurements and model studies.measurements and model studies.

Understanding land-air-ocean processes in the region. Understanding land-air-ocean processes in the region.

Atmospheric chemistry (tropospheric and Atmospheric chemistry (tropospheric and stratospheric).stratospheric).

Challenges in the modeling of the climate of the region, Challenges in the modeling of the climate of the region, articulation between global and regional perspectives. articulation between global and regional perspectives.

Climate change scenarios and associated Climate change scenarios and associated uncertainties in the region.uncertainties in the region.

Climate Change impact in the region (La Plata Climate Change impact in the region (La Plata Basin, central Andes, Southwestern Atlantic).Basin, central Andes, Southwestern Atlantic).

Socio-Economic aspects linked to climate evolution.Socio-Economic aspects linked to climate evolution.

La Plata estuary related processes.La Plata estuary related processes.

Further information about the Further information about the UMI IFAECIUMI IFAECI

Visit our web page at:Visit our web page at:

www.cima.fcen.uba.ar/www.cima.fcen.uba.ar/UMI/UMI/

Thank youThank you