Das Projekt "Teilprogrammleitung NFP 31" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Schweizerische Meteorologische Anstalt - MeteoSchweiz durchgeführt. The main task is the program management of the program component 'climate change'. The main goal of the National Research Programme 31 entitled 'Climatic changes and natural disasters' (NRP 31) is the detailed examination of the effects of possible future climatic changes on the environment and society of Switzerland. The programme aims to help us understand better the effect that sudden short-term climatic events, as well as long-term climatic changes have on the environment, and to test how society and politicians react to these events. The 55 projectsinvolved in the NRP 31 are separated in five research domains: Climate, Hydrology, Natural risks, Ecosystems and Society. For practical implementation of the results a special domain have been formed. In order to encourage interdisciplinary co-operation and to gain a high density of information, a part of the projects have been focused on three well defined regions of the Swiss Alps. The research projects are due to be completed by 1996. Leading Questions: Key research questions of the NFP 31: (See also under the program NFP 31). 1. How may Switzerland look like after a climatic change? 2. Can the impact of climate change be quantified for a region as small as Switzerland? 3. What kind of natural and social risks will be taken into account in Switzerland as a consequence of climate change? How can we react?
Das Projekt "Hauptprogramm, hier Teil: Naturkatastrophen und Gesellschaft" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Universite de Geneve, Departement de Mineralogie durchgeführt. The principal objective of the NRP 31 is the detailed study of the consequences of future climate changes on Swiss environment and society. In this context, the NRP 31 is coordinated with the Swiss contribution to the UN Decade on Natural Hazards Reduction (IDNDR 1990-1999) and with the Swiss National Climate Program (Proclim). Additionally, the NRP 31 may be considered as a Swiss contribution to the World climate Program of WMO (World Meteorological Organization), of ICSU (International Council of Scientific Unions), and of UNEP (United Nations Environment Program). The problem of climate changes on the regional scale and its resulting interactions between climate, ecosystems, natural hazards and society is the main thrust of NRP 31 activities. This programme should help improve our understanding of the response of the environment to abrupt short-term climatic events and to long-term climate changes, and provide answers to economic and political decision making. Numerous applications of the research supported by NRP 31 are envisaged. The emphasis of research will be on processing acting on the regional scale, in which the Alps and their interaction with their surroundings will be a major focal point. A particular attention will be given to interdisciplinary studies. Consequently, it will be attempted to bring together specific projects in especially sensitive geographical test-zones, as representative as possible of Swiss conditions. The completion of the programme is scheduled for 1997. Throughout this duration, research results will be continuously subject to detailed and realistic assessment. On the basis of the final report which will mark the end of the formal research phase, recommendations for pratical applications will be made and follow-on projects will be formulated. Leading Questions: How far can we estimate future changes in the domain of climate for Switzerland? How can be evaluate the reaction of the water cycle (hydrology and precipitations)? How do evolve the potential hazards of natural disasters according to climatic changes (avalanches, icefalls, floods, slope instabilities)? What are the reactions of the ecosystems (vegetation, forest)? What kind of possible means has our society to react against natural hazards or disasters(economy, policy, administration, sociocultural sphere)?