CLIMAX

CLIMAX is an inter- and trans-disciplinary project implemented to underpin climate services in South America. CLIMAX engages scientists as well as key actors from national meteorologicalservices, public institutions and civil society organizations. The project is intended to better understand climate variability and predictability in South America, to develop innovative monitoring and prediction tools of regional climate, and to co-produce climate-related knowledge of relevance for agriculture and hydropower sectors.

• The developed new dynamic vegetation models better simulate the interaction between tropical vegetation and climate variability.They provide novel insights about the impact of land use change on climate, as well as they evaluate high-impact events such as drought on rainforest in South America.

• CLIMAX’ innovative monitoring and prediction tools deliver regional climate information.Specific products of relevance for agriculture and hydrology sectors have been made, such as new monitoring indices and prediction information on weeks and seasons in advance.

• The co-production has been implemented through a theoretical-methodological framework that was unprecedented for the regional climate research.It facilitates the development of socially meaningful and valuable products such as a rainfall community network and a cellphone application to disseminate codesigned climate information among small farmer communities in Argentina. It provides a continuous learning space for all the actors involved.