Climate Change

Ecosystem-based adaptation to climate change

Instructor: Dr. Thanh Ding Vo
This training course will describe basic principles and practices of ecosystem-based management and social dimensions of climate change. These principles and practices include concepts of coupled social-natural systems and climate change adaption strategies. Ecosystems provide critical services and products for society (e.g., mangrove forests serving as barriers to coastal storm surges). These services also help to mitigate the impacts of climate change and reduce greenhouse gas in some cases (e.g., the carbon sequestration capability of salt marsh).This training module will explore climate change adaptation with considerations to social and ecological dimensions.

Oceanographic data for coastal protection

Instructor: Ms Lijuan Huang
Oceanographic observations along coastal areas are imperative for coastal hazard preparedness, coastal restoration, habitat management and planning/design of coastal infrastructure. This course will introduce coastal protection methods and data used by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS). Its data sets include National Water Level Observation Network (NWLON), Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System (PORTS), and National Current Observation Program (NCOP). The course will also present case studies of uses of these oceanographic data and explore their application for tsunami and storm-surge monitoring, sea-level trends and anomaly studies, coastal planning and restoration projects, shoreline delineation and marine boundaries, emergency preparedness, and HAZMAT response.