Regional climate model applications on sub-regional scales over the Indian monsoon region: The role of domain size on downscaling uncertainty

Regional climate models are becoming increasingly popular to provide high resolution climate change information for impacts assessments to inform adaptation options. Many countries and provinces requiring these assessments are as small as 200,000 km2 in size, significantly smaller than an ideal domain needed for successful applications of one-way nested regional climate models. Therefore assessments on sub-regional scales (e.g., river basins) are generally carried out using climate change simulations performed for relatively larger regions. Here we show that the seasonal mean hydrological cycle and the day-to-day precipitation variations of a sub-region within the model domain are sensitive to the domain size, even though the large scale circulation features over the region are largely insensitive. On seasonal timescales, the relatively smaller domains intensify the hydrological cycle by increasing the net transport of moisture into the study region and thereby enhancing the precipitation and local recycling of moisture. On daily timescales, the simulations run over smaller domains produce higher number of moderate precipitation days in the sub-region relative to the corresponding larger domain simulations. An assessment of daily variations of water vapor and the vertical velocity within the sub-region indicates that the smaller domains may favor more frequent moderate uplifting and subsequent precipitation in the region. The results remained largely insensitive to the horizontal resolution of the model, indicating the robustness of the domain size influence on the regional model solutions. These domain size dependent precipitation characteristics have the potential to add one more level of uncertainty to the downscaled projections.

Regional Workshop on Plagiarism

Regional Workshop conducted by University Library in collaboration with UGC INFLIBNET and Cochin University of Science & Technology, on 9th Feb 2015

Design, implementation and application of a generic framework for integrated regional land-use modeling

Land use is a crucial link between human activities and the natural environment and one of the main driving forces of global environmental change. Large parts of the terrestrial land surface are used for agriculture, forestry, settlements and infrastructure. Given the importance of land use, it is essential to understand the multitude of influential factors and resulting land use patterns. An essential methodology to study and quantify such interactions is provided by the adoption of land-use models. By the application of land-use models, it is possible to analyze the complex structure of linkages and feedbacks and to also determine the relevance of driving forces. Modeling land use and land use changes has a long-term tradition. In particular on the regional scale, a variety of models for different regions and research questions has been created. Modeling capabilities grow with steady advances in computer technology, which on the one hand are driven by increasing computing power on the other hand by new methods in software development, e.g. object- and component-oriented architectures. In this thesis, SITE (Simulation of Terrestrial Environments), a novel framework for integrated regional sland-use modeling, will be introduced and discussed. Particular features of SITE are the notably extended capability to integrate models and the strict separation of application and implementation. These features enable efficient development, test and usage of integrated land-use models. On its system side, SITE provides generic data structures (grid, grid cells, attributes etc.) and takes over the responsibility for their administration. By means of a scripting language (Python) that has been extended by language features specific for land-use modeling, these data structures can be utilized and manipulated by modeling applications. The scripting language interpreter is embedded in SITE. The integration of sub models can be achieved via the scripting language or by usage of a generic interface provided by SITE. Furthermore, functionalities important for land-use modeling like model calibration, model tests and analysis support of simulation results have been integrated into the generic framework. During the implementation of SITE, specific emphasis was laid on expandability, maintainability and usability. Along with the modeling framework a land use model for the analysis of the stability of tropical rainforest margins was developed in the context of the collaborative research project STORMA (SFB 552). In a research area in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, socio-environmental impacts of land-use changes were examined. SITE was used to simulate land-use dynamics in the historical period of 1981 to 2002. Analogous to that, a scenario that did not consider migration in the population dynamics, was analyzed. For the calculation of crop yields and trace gas emissions, the DAYCENT agro-ecosystem model was integrated. In this case study, it could be shown that land-use changes in the Indonesian research area could mainly be characterized by the expansion of agricultural areas at the expense of natural forest. For this reason, the situation had to be interpreted as unsustainable even though increased agricultural use implied economic improvements and higher farmers' incomes. Due to the importance of model calibration, it was explicitly addressed in the SITE architecture through the introduction of a specific component. The calibration functionality can be used by all SITE applications and enables largely automated model calibration. Calibration in SITE is understood as a process that finds an optimal or at least adequate solution for a set of arbitrarily selectable model parameters with respect to an objective function. In SITE, an objective function typically is a map comparison algorithm capable of comparing a simulation result to a reference map. Several map optimization and map comparison methodologies are available and can be combined. The STORMA land-use model was calibrated using a genetic algorithm for optimization and the figure of merit map comparison measure as objective function. The time period for the calibration ranged from 1981 to 2002. For this period, respective reference land-use maps were compiled. It could be shown, that an efficient automated model calibration with SITE is possible. Nevertheless, the selection of the calibration parameters required detailed knowledge about the underlying land-use model and cannot be automated. In another case study decreases in crop yields and resulting losses in income from coffee cultivation were analyzed and quantified under the assumption of four different deforestation scenarios. For this task, an empirical model, describing the dependence of bee pollination and resulting coffee fruit set from the distance to the closest natural forest, was integrated. Land-use simulations showed, that depending on the magnitude and location of ongoing forest conversion, pollination services are expected to decline continuously. This results in a reduction of coffee yields of up to 18% and a loss of net revenues per hectare of up to 14%. However, the study also showed that ecological and economic values can be preserved if patches of natural vegetation are conservated in the agricultural landscape. -----------------------------------------------------------------------

Descubre Sierra Espu??a : unidad did??ctica para el conocimiento del Parque Regional de Sierra Espu??a

Unidad did??ctica dise??ada para el tercer ciclo de ense??anza Primaria y primero de Secundaria sobre el Parque Regional de Sierra Espu??a, ??nico espacio natural de la regi??n incluido dentro del programa de la UE conocido como CADISPA (conservaci??n y desarrollo de ??reas escasamente pobladas). Se trata de dos publicaciones, por un lado el libro del profesor, realizado para la orientaci??n de ??ste en su labor docente y la carpeta del alumno compuesta por un conjunto de actividades para descubrir Sierra Espu??a, conocerla, entenderla y colaborar en su conservaci??n. El desarrollo de esta unidad did??ctica est?? previsto para realizarlo durante tres semanas. Los planteamientos metodol??gicos se traducen en la aplicaci??n de m??todos activos y se ha integrado la mayor parte de los objetivos y contenidos de ??reas en un enfoque globalizador, siendo el eje de la unidad el Conocimiento del Medio.

Experiencias en la did??ctica de la Lengua Castellana y la Literatura : actas del I Encuentro Regional sobre intercambio de experiencias en Did??ctica de la Lengua Castellana y la Literatura. Mayo 1999

Ponencias y comunicaciones presentadas en el primer encuentro regional sobre did??ctica de la Lengua y la Literatura, dirigidas al profesorado de secundaria y primaria en el que se abordaron distintos temas: cine y Literatura, los gr??ficos en la ense??anza de la Lengua y la Literatura, l??xico, Literatura comparada, intertextualidad, etc. adem??s de la comunicaci??n de experiencias educativas y recursos did??cticos.

Experiencia didáctica con la flora y la fauna del Mar Menor y Parque Regional de Calblanque.

Guía didáctica en la que se describe los parajes del Mar Menor y Calblanque así como su flora y su fauna. Incluye una guía fotográfica y un texto didáctico a modo de diario de un ecologista con sugerencias de actividades. El último bloque lo constituyen una serie de proyectos, indagaciones y experimentos para realizar en el aula o en la naturaleza, además de modelos de fichas de campo para aves, peces, plantas y conchas.

Primer Encuentro del Consejo Regional de la Regi??n de Murcia con Consejos Escolares de Centro : la escuela intercultural en la Regi??n de Murcia

El libro recoge las actas del primer encuentro regional de consejos escolares, reunidos para debatir sobre un tema de gran impacto en la Regi??n de Murcia: la situaci??n de la interculturalidad en los centros escolares. De las conferencias, ponencias, mesa redonda y comunicaciones se puede obtener un perfil bastante ajustado de la poblaci??n inmigrante, su procedencia, las tasas de escolarizaci??n, su distrubuci??n por municipios y centros, su situaci??n acad??mica inicial, los programas espec??ficos de atenci??n promovidos desde la administraci??n, la formaci??n del profesorado, las actuaciones espec??ficas de atenci??n a la diversidad y las propuestas de otras instituciones y organismos: ayuntamientos, ONGs, asociaciones, etc.

Plan Regional de Solidaridad en la Educaci??n : Comunidad Aut??noma de la Regi??n de Murcia 2001-2003

La publicaci??n incluye un estudio sobre la evoluci??n del alumnado inmigrante en la Regi??n de Murcia, las fuentes de financiaci??n, criterios generales de actuaci??n, etc

Identidad regional y ense??anza

El Consejo Escolar de la Regi??n de Murcia organiza una reuni??n de expertos con el objetivo de estudiar los pilares b??sicos de la identidad regional y reflexionar sobre las posibles peculiariedades curriculares de la ense??anza murciana. Especialistas en ciencias sociales y humanas y de la educaci??n exponen sus puntos de vista desde la perspectiva geogr??fico-territorial, medio-ambiental, hist??rico-literaria, etc.

Primer Certamen Regional de Cuentos : Nuestro Cuento

El libro recoge los premios correspondientes al Primer Cetamen Regional de Cuentos denominado 'Nuestro Cuento', dirigido a centros de Educaci??n Infantil y Educaci??n Primaria de la Regi??n de Murcia con el objetivo de fomentar en los escolares el gusto por la creaci??n literaria y pl??stica. Tras cada uno de los cinco cuentos premiados figura una descripci??n de su proceso de elaboraci??n, descripci??n realizada por el profesor coordinador de la actividad.

I Seminario Regional de Educaci??n Compensatoria e Intercultural en Primaria

La Consejer??a de Educaci??n y Cultura, El Centro de Animaci??n y Documentaci??n Intercultural (CADI) y el CPR Murcia II organizan estas Jornadas con el objetivo de dar a conocer la alta cualificaci??n del profesorado de educaci??n compensatoria e interculturalidad y las ??ltimas tendencias de la educaci??n intercultural, entre ??stas, una propuesta de organizaci??n escolar de compensatoria en EI y EP, el espa??ol como lengua extranjera en primaria, la intervenci??n compensatoria de acuerdo al modelo de programas, etc..

Plan regional de formación permanente del profesorado 2002-2003.

En la publicación figura información relativa a la oferta de formación, la temporalización de las actividades ofertadas (cursos, seminarios, jornadas, etc), ayudas económicas para la formación, presentación de solicitudes, proyectos europeos, direcciones de interés, etc.

Plan regional de formación permanente del profesorado 2003-2004.

Incluye dos anexos, en el primero se presenta un cuadro con las actividades programadas con convocatoria centralizada y, en el segundo, las disposiciones que regulan las convocatorias y que se publican en el BORM

Montañas de interior : Parque Regional de Sierra Espuña, Parque Regional de Carrascoy y El Valle, Lugar de Importancia Comunitaria Sierra de Ricote - La Navela.

Con esta guía comienza una serie dedicada a itinerarios didácticos por espacios naturales de la Región de Murcia que forma parte de la colección de Cuadernos Crea (el número 6) que edita el Centro de Recursos de Educación Ambiental de la Región de Murcia

Seminario Regional de Compensaci??n Educativa : Educaci??n Primaria y Educaci??n Secundaria : curso 2003-2004

Este CD se edita como continuaci??n del proceso comenzado en el curso 2001/2002, primera edici??n del Seminario Regional de Compensaci??n Educativa cuyas actas fueron editadas tambi??n en Cd por el Servicio de Atenci??n a la Diversidad en el a??o 2002