Disasters
Natural Disasters not only result in death and destruction but can also undermine decades of development gains. The vast majority of the natural disasters affecting Sri Lanka are hydro-meteorological in origin. Sri Lanka is not known to be prone to earthquakes and the volcanoes but is prone to tsunamis.
Advances in technology and a hazard warning system can be used to predict risk levels of floods, cyclones and landslides a few days in advance and the tendency to drought months in advance. The risk levels of hazards can be predicted with a degree of confidence so as to be useful for natural resource managers, policy and decision makers.
We have undertaken the following projects- Can Drought and Flood Hazards be Skillfully and Robustly Assessed at Fine Spatial Resolution in Maldives and Sri Lanka? (2015 – 2019)
- Monitoring Drought and Assessing Climate Change in Next Decades in Sri-Lanka and Maldives (2014 - 2018)
- Assessing Drought and Enabling Adaptation through Rainwater Harvesting (2007 - 2009)
- Tsunami Relief (2004)
- Climate and Natural Disaster Hotspots (2002 – 2006)
Through this project we implemented a hazard analysis framework for combining multiple terrestrial indicators from satellite observations and climate/hydrological model simulations to assess hazard risks and impacts of climate variability. These assessments evaluated for utility in decision support for disaster management. The project was partnered with Goddard Space Flight Center-NASA (NASA-GFSC) and the Maldives National University (MNU). It was sponsored under the PEER program of the US National Academy of Sciences and USAID program in Sri Lanka and Maldives.
Monitoring Drought and Assessing Climate Change in Next Decades in Sri-Lanka and Maldives (2014-2018)Scientists from the Foundation for Environment, Climate and Technology, Maldives National University, Maldives Meteorological Services, Columbia University collaborated to develop monitoring and predictive tools for drought risk and to address a riddle in climate change projections which predict a wetter climate although what has been experienced is sustained drying. The goal was to develop an operational, state of the art drought assessment using climate information and to assess the climate change impacts on drought risk in Sri Lanka and the Maldives more reliably in the next decade. We conducted climate research, assessed the drought risk, developed tools for drought hazard analysis and monitoring, participated in Scientific Conferences, published books and journals in addition provided outreach and training. These assessments shall be evaluated for utility in decision support for drought management. This project was sponsored under the PEER program of the US National Academy of Sciences and USAID program in Sri Lanka and Maldives.
Assessing Drought and Enabling Adaptation through Rainwater Harvesting (2007 -2009)In collaboration with the University of Peradeniya we developed a systematic basis to assess drought and design a Rainwater Harvesting (RWH) system based on climate data, and developed a proposal for the installation of a RWH unit in Idamelanda, Hanguranketa. Using regional, seasonal and long term indicators we developed a computer program to generate estimates for the collector and storage sizes to a given reliability. We focused on RWH units for domestic, home gardening purposes and developed a draft proposal for implementation of an RWH unit with the participation of the community. This effort was funded by the ProVention Consortium.
Tsunami Relief (2004)After the tsunami on the 26th December 2004, two websites were developed to find and to contribute to the recovery effort. It provided the topical information about tsunami disaster, Sri Lanka disaster management and health care, updated on the evolving situation on the ground, requests for assistance, offers of assistance, maps, information on regional weather and climate, networking tools and information on organizations that were involved in relief particularly small community based organizations and contains links to related websites and effort. It provided a GIS based interactive mapping tool that can help contextualize relief work spatially.
Climate and Natural Disaster Hotspots (2002 – 2006)We identified disaster hazard risk spatially and seasonally for Sri Lanka at fine scales along with the impacts of combination of these risks. We also studied vulnerability to disaster. This work resulted in a proposal for disaster risk management. Our partners were the Center for Hazards and Risk Research (CHRR), Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN), and The Earth Institute at Columbia University. This project was funded by The Earth Institute at Columbia University with a grant from the World Bank. This work was published by the World Bank.