Statistical Downscaling of Global Climate Models using SDSM 5.2<http://smconservation.gmu.edu/programs/graduate-and-professional/professional-training-courses/sdsm/> December 7-11, 2015 Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation, Front Royal, VA, USA
Global Climate Models indicate that rising concentrations of greenhouse gases will have significant implications for climate at global and regional scales. Less certain is the extent to which meteorological processes at individual sites will be affected, yet potential changes at smaller scales are exactly what engineers, consultants and land managers are most concerned with. Statistical downscaling is used to bridge the spatial and temporal resolution gaps between what climate modelers can currently provide (low resolution, course-scale data) and what impact assessors require (high-resolution, fine-scale data). The Statistical DownScaling Model (SDSM) is a freely available software tool that facilitates the rapid development of multiple, low-cost, single-site scenarios of daily surface weather variables under present and future climate forcing. SDSM is the most ubiquitous statistical downscaling software used in the scientific literature with over 200+ studies in over 39 countries. This course trains on the use and application of this decision support tool for assessing local climate change impacts, taught by professionals currently using this technique in their own research. The course will be of interest to researchers, managers, planners, engineers, consultants and students interested in applying global climate model scenarios at the local scale to inform impact assessment, planning and risk-management. The course will include a combination of lectures, case studies and guided computer work, and will be led by Dr. Adam Fenech, Director of the Climate Lab at the University of Prince Edward Island and Dr. Robert Wilby, Professor of Hydroclimatic Modelling at Loughborough University and co-developer of SDSM. Time will be provided for participants to give short presentations on their current work to get feedback from other participants and instructors. By the end of the course, participants will be able to: * access, quality control, and statistically analyze climate data; * prepare scenarios of future climate change through ensemble and validation techniques; * download and use the SDSM 5.1.1 software to create a statistical model of climate observations for a region of interest; * create site-specific hi-resolution scenarios of future climate change; and * understand applications of statistically-downscaled model results. Visit our website at http://SMconservation.gmu.edu for more course details and for instructions on how to apply. All courses area held in a new sustainably built Academic Quad, including new classrooms, dining commons and residential facility. Full scholarships are available to support qualified applicants to attend the course. Please apply online before September 28th for full consideration. Send us an email at [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> with any questions you might have or check out our FAQs<http://smconservation.gmu.edu/programs/graduate-and-professional/graduate-faq/>. Additional Upcoming Courses: * Statistics for Ecology and Conservation Biology<http://smconservation.gmu.edu/?p=1934professional-training-courses/mccs-0501-stat%E2%80%A6vation-biology/> (February 29-March 11, 2016) * Practical Zoo Nutrition Management<http://smconservation.gmu.edu/programs/graduate-and-professional/professional-training-courses/nutrition/> (April 11-15, 2016) * Species Monitoring and Conservation: Terrestrial Mammals<http://smconservation.gmu.edu/programs/graduate-and-professional/professional-training-courses/mccs-0503-species-monitoring-and-conservation-terrestrial-mammals/> (May 9-20, 2016)
