The heat waves’ risk and adaptation strategies
Project background
The
studies conducted by the CRSTRA under the EUR-OPA Major Hazards Agreement have
pinpointed the trend in heat-waves against the background of climate change,
highlighting an increase in the length, frequency and intensity of heat-waves
since the 1980s. At the same time, the workshops on heat-wave risks and
adaptation held by the CRSTRA as part of the activities of the EUR-OPA program
(2014-2015) for the various stakeholders involved in dealing with these risks
(Civil Defence, health service, National Climate Change Agency (ANCC), etc.)
have produced various recommendations.
Some have been implemented; for instance, for the first time in Algeria,
alerts have been issued in the media to warn the public about impending
heat-waves and the precautions to be taken.
At present, the CRSTRA is developing tools to aid decision-making
(heat-wave risk maps for Algeria) and also drawing up an inventory of best
practices based on traditional local skills in terms of heat-wave risk
adaptation and mitigation. In addition,
the CRSTRA is developing outreach media for national institutions, local
authorities and vulnerable population groups (children, elderly persons and
persons with chronic diseases).
Project implementation
Centre for Scientific and Technical Research on Arid Regions Omar El Bernaoui - Algeria : The aim of this project was to contribute to a better
management of heat waves’ risk with its depressive effects on reducing
populations and socioeconomic activities.
The main objectives for 2016 and 2017 were:
To refine the work already done through a larger
network of studied stations (in the hope that other centers around the
Mediterranean will participate);
The preparation of teaching awareness supports
relative to this risk;
To translate knowledge into decision support
tools.
In order to (expected results):
Reactivation
of basic climatic data (continuous);
Climate
Data Buy for other meteorological stations, for a better study of bioclimatic
floors:
Analysis
and data processing;
Public
awareness with dissemination of developed materials;
Predicting
the trend of very hot days until 2050;
Most significant achievements
Centre for Scientific and Technical Research on Arid Regions Omar El Bernaoui - Algeria : New studies concerning heatwaves in
Algeria, conducted
after the database on ?hot days in Algeria” was updated and new locations were
added, clearly show that the number of
heatwaves and their duration are rising across the country.
The
Centre for Scientific and Technical Research on Arid Regions (CRSTRA) held an education and awareness-raising workshop
primarily for children (often
accompanied by their parents) and students
concerning major environmental issues
including heatwave risks. A poster
in Arabic entitled ?Heatwaves on the rise in Algeria” was presented at the
National Research Fair (SAFEX-Alger (Algeria), 18-21 May 2017).
The
CRSTRA drew up and distributed awareness-raising
material (a leaflet in French) regarding
heatwaves and practical responses to them.
To
determine the ways in which people adapt, the CRSTRA carried out a field survey of the local population
in the Saoura region (South-West Algeria), an area strongly affected by
heatwaves. The survey made it possible to highlight possible measures to be taken before and during a
heatwave.
-
In order to measure
the minimum and maximum temperature differences between traditional and modern
buildings, and to demonstrate the effects
of green spaces, the CRSTRA has put in place sensors for measuring and recording the temperature in the
municipality of Beni Abbes in the Saoura region (South-West Algeria).
- The Algerian Journal of
Arid Areas (JARA) dedicated a special issue on heatwaves to the 2014-2015
project. The special issue can be found online on the CRSTRA website.
CRSTRA
Centre for Scientific and Technical Research on Arid Regions Omar El Bernaoui - Algeria
Centre for Scientific and Technical Research on Arid Regions Omar El Bernaoui - Algeria