DATE / TIME:

2017/09/20    08:00 - 2017/09/22    14:00

Location:

South Africa

Organiser: University of Limpopo

Co-Conveners: UNU-FLORES, University of Limpopo, ITC-Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (University of Twente), European Space Agency (ESA), Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), South African Space Agency (SANSA), University of KwaZulu Natal (UKZN)

Image: Ana Andreu Mendez/UNU-FLORES

Speaker / Lecturer

• Dr. Ana Andreu (formerly UNU-FLORES, Marie Curie Fellow)
• Dr. Timothy Dube (University of Limpopo)
• Dr. Radoslaw Guzinski (European Space Agency)
• Dr. Zoltan Vekerdy (ITC-Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation, University of Twente)
• Ms. Nobuhle Majozi (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research)
• Dr. Clement & Mr. Oupa Malahela (South African Space Agency)
• Mr. Inos Dhau (University of Limpopo)

Drought periods and erratic rainfall patterns across large parts of Africa result in water-limited environments like savannas, highly sensitive to land management practices and changes in climate. Over the Southern part of the continent, savannas are key productive landscapes supporting livestock, crops and rural livelihoods. Monitoring water use and the natural vegetation stress over these semi-arid complex ecosystems can support rangeland management, to maintain long-term productivity. Quantifying water (energy) fluxes requires an efficient and sound monitoring of the state variables driving their evolution, the external conditions influencing them, and the measurement of the fluxes. Remote sensing provides a unique perspective to approach these exchanges, with sensors, analytical tools and models continuously evolving and providing new possibilities to address a more complete space-time description of these land-atmosphere processes.

This workshop aims to present the current state of art on remote sensing of water use and stress in African Savannas. With a practical hands-on training approach, we will discuss the use of earth observation technology for estimating water and energy fluxes. S special focus will be placed on modelling evapotranspiration in semiarid complex natural systems. This activity is part of the TIGER project 401, within the TIGER Initiative framework, funded by the European Space Agency, and support by the United Nations University, the University of Limpopo and the University of Western Cape.

Background

This is the last activity of the TIGER project “Remote Sensing of Water Use and Water Stress in African Savanna from Local to Regional Scale”.

At the workshop, the TIGER Savanna Tool Handbook will be used (and provided). It can also be downloaded for free here.

Related Website:
tiger initiative – looking after water in Africa