Aondover Tarhule|Peter Lamb
Climate Research and Seasonal Forecasting for West Africans: Perceptions, Dissemination, and Use?
Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies|University of Oklahoma
beginning response disastrous drought 196873 considerable research monitoring focused characteristics causes predictability impacts west african soudanosahel 1018n rainfall variability drought efforts generated substantial information range topics little known extent communities activities risk policy makers aware access use information situation prevailed despite glantzs provocative bams paper use value seasonal forecasts sahel quarter century ago provide systematic reevaluation issues based questionnaire responses 566 participants 13 communities 26 organizations burkina faso mali niger nigeria results reveal rural inhabitants limited access climate information nongovernmental organizations ngos important source moreover pathways information flow generally weakly connected informal result utilization results climate research low nonexistent even organizations responsible managing effects climate variability similarly people access seasonal climate forecasts although vast majority expressed willingness use information becomes available respondents access expressed great enthusiasm satisfaction seasonal forecasts results suggest inhabitants soudanosahel savanna keen changes improve ability cope climate variability lack information alternative courses action major constraint study thus essentially leaves unchanged glantzs negative tentative conclusion positive preliminary assessment 25 years ago specifically many infrastructural deficiencies socioeconomic impediments remain great yearning climate information soudanosahalians suggests time finally ripe fostering increased use therefore simple model improved dissemination climate research seasonal climate forecast information proposed tragedy quarter century passed since glantzs clarion call