This workshop is targeted at postgraduate students and postdoctoral researchers, particularly those in the United Kingdom who are unfamiliar with the climatology of southern Africa or Lesotho in particular. The webinar will be open to registered students and postdoctoral staff at UCL and Wits, and to a broader community, including students of the University of Lesotho and BIUST, by invitation. The webinar assumes a basic understanding of undergraduate level geography, but will cover the basics of synoptic climate systems.
Day 1: Introduction to synoptic climatology of southern Africa
- Introduction to the broad circulation systems of southern Africa and their drivers (Dr Jennifer Fitchett, Wits)
- Q&A Discussion
- The climate of Lesotho - the importance of topography (Dr Jennifer Fitchett, Wits)
- Q&A Discussion
Day 2: Delineating rainfall seasonality zones
- Introduction to debates on classifying rainfall seasonality in southern Africa
- Q&A Discussion
- Methods for quantifying and exploring changes in seasonality using meteorological station data (Dr Sarah Roffe, Wits)
- Q&A Discussion
- Data analysis activity (Drs Roffe and Fitchett)
Day 3: Exploring climate with a paucity of data
- Working in Google Earth Engine (Mauro Lourenco, PhD Candidate, Wits)
- Q&A Discussion
- Climate models for southern Africa (Prof Francois Engelbrecht, Wits)
- Q&A Discussion
- Presentation of results from data analysis activity
