High-frequency climate variability is one of the most common features associated with climatic zones and yet,听one of the least understood aspects of climate sciences, and unsurprisingly, one of the least implemented听aspects of climate sciences in the realm of climate adaptation and policy. Semi-arid belts of the world,听characterized by low and large variations in rainfall, provide some of the best test beds for studying high-frequency climate variability, which operate primarily through a land-vegetation-atmosphere feedback in听these regions. In this talk I will present an interdisciplinary approach- combining high-resolution natural听archives and human societal archives-that together provide a framework for characterizing modes of climate听variability as well as determining associated frequency of climate disasters and resultant human impacts听(mortality, unemployment, loss of lives and employment). I will present three case studies - in the Sahel听region of Africa, in the southwest United States and in peninsular India. In case of the Sahel and southwestern听United States, I will show paleoclimate data demonstrating climate variability (particularly related to land-vegetation feedback). In case of peninsular India, I will focus on information related to climate disasters and听climate impacts from institutional archival data spanning the last two centuries and will tie that information听to published works of natural archives in the region. 听In conclusion, I will discuss how study of natural and听human archives together can be combined to gain insight into climate adaptation in response to GHG听warming during the 21st 听century.
Atreyee Bhattacharya
CU Boulder, Instructor Environmental Studies, INSTAAR Affiliate
Director听of the Global Environmental
Affairs Certificate Program