El 2 de diciembre de 2014 la Fundación Ramón Areces organizó en colaboración con Mujeres por África la primera Jornada 'Ellas investigan' con el lema 'Mujer, ciencia, tecnología e innovación en África'. Diferentes ponentes abordaron desde un punto de vista multidisciplinar qué medidas habría que tomar para impulsar el desarrollo científico y tecnológico en este continente como motor de progreso global.

1. Encouraging African women
Scientist to participate in
Research in Climate change
BY
Francisca Nneka Okeke, FAAS

2. CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
EARTH’S ATMOSPHERE
►CLIMATE CHANGE AND ITS EFFECTS
►STRATEGIES FOR ENCOURAGING AFRICAN
WOMEN SCIENTISTS IN PARTICIPATING IN CC RES
►SOME OF ATMOSPHERIC PHENOMENA
►CONCLUSION
►RECOMMENDATION

3. INTRODUCTION
 We can not talk of CC without surveying the earth
in which we are.
World needs Science but Science needs women
Women should be involved in all research involving
CC
The importance can not be overemphsized

4.  We live in earth system science- contributes to our
emerging view of earth as a complete entity
CC is a long-term shift in weather condition,
identified by change in temp, precipitation, wind, etc
 Interacting set of physical, chemical and biological
systems yield processes & conditions of entire earth.
Any factor that causes significant change to amount
of incoming energy or and outgoing one can lead to cc
Causes of CC: Natural and Human activities

5.  Earth system scientists-monitor, analyze changes
occurring in natural systems-it affects lives on earth
 ? Makes up the earth’s environment
 Physical elements & processes- water, energy, air,
weather, climate, landforms, soil, plants, animals, earth
and human activities.
*NB Physical and life sciences are interrelated

6. Physical sciences Life Sciences
Physics.…Science of matter and
energy
Geology.…Earth material composition
processes and history
Hydrology….Continental water
properties, distribution and
effect
Geodesy.…Earth’s size and shape
Meteorology....Atmosphere and
weather
Oceanography….Oceanic physical and
living Systems
Astronomy....Celestial objects and
matter in the Universe
Biology…life and living organisms
Byotan….Plant life
Ecology…Relationship between life and
environment
Zoology….Animal life

8. Functions of the Earth’s Atmosphere
Protect life on earth from hazardous radiation
 Act as energy source
Protect us from rapid cooling and excessive heating
 Maintaining mean Temp of earth’s surface (150C)
Transporting energy from equatorial regions to
medium and higher latitudes

9.  Transport water vapour through dynamic
processes of general air circulation- precipitation
 Storage of huge amount of Nitogen, reservoir for
carbon dioxide and oxygen
Dissipation and decomposition of natural and
anthropogenic emissions
 Protection from smaller meteorites when entering
the earth’s atmosphere and can not reach the
surface

10. Weather and Climate

11. Weather is condition of atmosphere at any particular
time and place
 Composed of the following elements ;
 Air temperature;
precipitation
 Air pressure;
visibility
 Humidity; wind
 Clouds

12. CLIMATE: Average weather obtained from weather
elements measured over specific interval of time.
SOME ATMOSPHERIC PHENOMENA
Storm: Results from the whirling of large organized
cloud of masses of all sizes and shapes.
Cyclonic storm, tropical cyclone, hurricane
Smaller storms: tornado, typhoon thunder storm

14.  Level of greenhouse gases in atmosphere are
threatening to change the earth’s weather & climate
 Leading to Gradual global warming
Atmospheric greenhouse (GH) effect
 Below10km, Ozone and molecular oxygen absorb UV
radiation
 Water vapour and CO2 are strong selective absorber
of infrared (IR) radiation
 Resulting to earth’s surface and lower atmosphere
being warmer than they would in absence of the
absorber

15.  In GH, the glass allows VR to come in, inhibits
passage of outgoing IR.
 For this reason behavior of water vapor and CO2
in the atmosphere is referred to greenhouse effect
 Warmer air inside a GH is caused by air’s inability
to circulate and mix with cooler air and not by
entrapment of IR energy

16. Ozone and UV rays
 Ozone level at the upper atmosphere is being reduced
 As a result of release of ozone depleting chemicals-
CFCs

17. Aerosols
• Particles (sulphate, dust or sea salt) suspended in
the atmosphere
• Aerosols as site for chemical rxs ocurring, leads to
destruction of stratospheric ozone
• Aerosols that affect CC; Volcanic aerosols, desert
dust and human-made aerosols

18. Volcanic eruption in Iceland generates aerosols (Dugdale)

19. Volcanic eruption giving rise to volcanic aerosols (Stock/Julian)

20.  EL Nino effect-Disruption of ocean-atmosphere
system in tropical having vital consequences for
weather globally
La Nina effect-characterized by usually cold temps
in equatorial pacifi

21. Climate Change
 CC as evidenced by alteration of weather pattern
is disturbing life supporting natural systems
 Affects the human health globally
 We need to study our environment, applying
scientific analysis to give solutions to effects of
CC on Africa
CC will have more severe impact on Africa regions
than other regions of the world

22. The question is; has African succeeded in achieving
this?
NO is the Answer !

23. • Controversy - CC is as a result of global warming
caused by the accumulation of GH gases that are
spurred into the atmosphere by human activity
• Africa as a whole contributes insignificantly about 3%
of the total anthropogenic emissions.
• African land mass is by far greater than most of other
western countries (e.g.; USA, UK, India, Japan, Italy,
France, Eastern Europe, Spain, Germany) put together.

24. • We still suffer more from the effects of CC than other
western countries
WHY?
• Africans are still not very conversant with the root
cause of CC, because we lack the basic scientific
research information

25. • Africa’s large mass consists of sub-tropical and
tropical climatic regions
• Covers a wide variety of climates, ranging from
humid tropics hyper-arid Sahara that include
winter rainfall regions at the northern and southern
extremes
•Variety of climate complicates the understanding of
climatic effects of CC in Africa b/c of different global
drivers regulate various climates.

26. •Inter-Governmental panel on climate Change
(IPCC) has long noted that the drier sub-tropical
regions will be warning faster than the humid
tropics
•It was ascertained that effects on rainfall will be
varied; consequently, some parts of the continent
will become drier while other become wetter
•Identified shortcomings of models applied in
studying and understanding the effects of CC on
African climates

27. These include;
poor understanding of limitations of empirical
downscaling models
not taking account of land surface changes
non-inclusion of vegetation and aerosol feedback
insufficient information for assessing possible
changes in the spatial distribution and frequencies of
tropical cyclones affecting Africa

28. • Most disturbing uncertainty is; how CC will affect the
climates of Africa as a whole
What will be the solution to this?
Answer is application of science in the study of CC.
• In applying science in studying CC, we first have to be
acquainted with both the past, present and future CC

29. • African economy is invariably affected by the cc since
it is affected by changes in temperature,
precipitation, sea level rise and extreme weather
events associated with CC
• CC affect agricultural productivity due to increasing
temperature and food security is threatened

30. CC and health
• CC affect health conditions particularly in
transmission of diseases; e.g., malaria epidemic
related to high relative humidity and rainfall; that
assists in increasing breeding sites
• Other diseases that prevail under high temperature
could equally be transmitted during CC

31. • Note that extreme climate related events that could
equally aid, ill-health, disaster, food insecurity etc
include;
droughts and famine,
flooding from excessive rainfall,
sea level rise,
storm surge,
wild fire,
landslides
– this might lead to disaster

32. Role of scientists in Africa
Scientists are expected to
help in developing drought-adapted crops and
animals, flood- tolerant crops,
design short-term weather forecasting facilities
design to improve agro-production systems
restructure modeling techniques,
develop effective and efficient disaster management
systems

33. •African scientists to address the root cause of CC by
designing suitable climate models that fits into
local/regional areas in Africa
There is urgent need for them to model future events of
CC on African climate system
This consequently will yield solution to adaptation
measures
They should strive to store/keep records of extensive
and accumulated data, locally and regionally
These take care of misinformation of the impact of CC
on agriculture, health and food security

34. Strategies for Encouraging
African Women in taking part in
Research in CC
Creating awareness in society on
importance of women participation in
Research on CC
 Guidance and counseling for
young girls in choosing their courses
 Female to teach science to girls

35.  Policy makers to involve women in
drawing policy in Science and technology
 Mounting workshops, seminar, science
film classes, science drama sections
conferences exhibition etc on cc research.
 Empowerment of women in the society
 Awards, scholarships to be instituted in
Africa for girls/women in science

36. In Social gathering,emphasis are laid on
achievements of successful Women
Scientists
Introducing team work and collaborative
research in areas of CC
Mentoring of younger female by women
scientists

37. Awards, scholarships should be instituted in
Africa for girls/women in science
Instituting these, will not only encourage women in science,
but will sensitize and build them up
L’Oreal-UNESCO/ANSTI has already embarked on such
institution, which I am praying we achieve this with our
foundation in future.
These Awards are yielding tremendous fruits and more
women are encouraged to read science as a course
We need more of such bodies to institute more awards for
women in science

39. Quest for the cause for CC
• Danish (2009) challenged the notion that human
emissions are solely responsible for global warming
• He suggested that the earth’s climate has been
significantly affected by
planet’s magnetic field
found strong correlation between the strength of
the earth’s magnetic field
amount of precipitation in the tropics

40. • Demark’s results support the controversial theory
published by Danish and Svensmark who claimed that
climate was highly influenced by galactic cosmic rays
(GCR)
• Svensmark theory involved a link between the earth’s
magnetic field and climate, since that field helps to
regulate the number of GCR particles that reach the
earth’s atmosphere
• Geomagnetic-climate connection is still a puzzle and
requires serious research. Scientists still need to
determine if CO2 or effect geomagnetic field plays
more important role

41. •Again part of scientific finding include;
volcanic eruption; this releases volcanic ash and
gases into the atmosphere that alter atmospheric
chemistry and climate
Okeke, F. N. et. al also suggested that
geomagnetic field has a lot to contribute to CC.

42. Conclusion
 One of the vital ingredients for development of
any nation is based on knowledge of field of
science, of which res in cc is necessary.
 It is practically impossible to expect significant
economic and social development without sound
research based on the earth and its environ, which CC
accounts for.
If societal, environmental and economic state of a
nation is balanced, then development is achieved.
Possibility of quality life balanced by economic growth
and ecological preservation depends on quality research.

43. Recommendations
It is necessary to unfold imaginations, intensive efforts
in our research
We need to assert authority and self-reliance in
carrying out our research activities
stakeholders should motivate researchers in this active
area of research

44.  Women scientists leaders, who have already
established can endorse and legitimate women who
seek or attain leadership roles
 We need to promote our own accomplishments,
just as men do
 Organizations and individuals should support
women scientists and hence, support progress
towards a social structure
 Women in science should support each other and
while in power try to institute a fellow women, who
is qualified

45. Researchers must show determination,
perseverance and patience among others
Collaborative research involving interdisciplinary
research and team work should be encouraged
Capacity building should be encouraged
What do we need?
Implementation/Action