SDG 13 - Climate action

Please describe how your professional (and/or personal) experience relates to space technologies and their applications to water resources management.

I am an expert in hydroinformatics, mainly involved in research projects and research supervision of MSc and PhD students. My research focusses on physically based models for inland waters (rivers and lakes). One of the major fields where modelling is used in water resources is flooding. In order to have adequate representation of floods, most models require large amounts of data, both for model building and model usage.

You are currently a Senior Fellow and Cluster Coordinator: Nature, Climate, and Health at UNU – CRIS, can you elaborate on your role, and how it relates to water?

The world faces big problems like climate change, water shortages, and health issues. At UNU CRIS, our Nature, Climate, and Health Cluster studies how these problems are linked. We see that climate change makes things like water and food scarce, which hurts people's health. Our research shows how climate change affects water, food, and health security.

How do you personally and professionally relate to water? 

Growing up in Israel, water scarcity was a constant backdrop to my childhood. The arid climate and frequent droughts shaped my relationship with water from an early age. One vivid memory that remains stamped in my mind is the series of TV campaigns highlighting the importance of water conservation. I recall sitting in front of the television, concerned by the urgency conveyed in those campaigns. The images of dry landscapes and the emphasis on every drop of water as precious left a lasting impression.

Translated by Marina Agarkova

Recently, in July 2021, destructive and deadly floods occurred in Western Europe. The estimated insured losses only in Germany could approach 5 billion Euros (AIR Worldwide, 2021). However, the total amount of the damage is currently not foreseeable due to the variety and complexity of the damage patterns and the unbelievable extent of the disaster. It seems the socio-economic losses will dramatically increase and break a new record in the insurance industry after evaluating the complete record of damages’ reports (see Figure 1).

On 2 February 2020, we celebrate World Wetlands Day to raise global awareness about the vital role of wetlands for people and our planet. This year’s edition highlights the connection between water, wetlands, and life.

Translated by Marina Agarkova

Environ 40 % de la population mondiale vit à moins de cent kilomètres des côtes (Nations unies, 2017).  Le niveau des mers est en hausse dans le monde entier et la tendance s'accélère chaque année. L'ONU, d'innombrables organisations internationales et des agences nationales travaillent ardemment chaque année pour soutenir les efforts des climatologues afin de modéliser avec précision notre climat changeant. Le rôle de la glace dans le modelage des mers de la Terre est indiscutable.

Translated by: Isabel Zetina

When we think about geospatial technology, many of us imagine satellites for Earth observation and navigation, drones, and complex sensors used to collect information from the terrestrial surface. We also believe that most of the people capable of developing applications using geospatial data should hold a science-related Master or Ph.D. degree. The previous statement could not be further from the truth. Advances in technology have made access to geospatial technology possible for everybody.  

Can you imagine a group of young women empowering other women using geospatial technology? From July 10 to 13 July 2019 in the First Geospatial Rally for Women in Rural Aqueducts took place, where 30 women from very different contexts met with the same goal, to build an empowering space, in the Nicoya Campus (north of Costa Rica) of the University of Costa Rica (UCR). This was done with the intention to learn from each other.

Extreme weather events, such as sudden downpours or prolonged droughts, disrupt economies, ecosystems, and communities. These events are closely linked to aerosols—tiny atmospheric particles that influence the hydrological cycle by altering cloud properties and precipitation. Understanding the interactions between aerosols, clouds, and the hydrological cycle is essential for managing climate variability.

It was not long ago, in 1916, that the explorer Padre De Agostini surveyed part of the topography of the Escondidos glaciers (“hidden glaciers”, in English) in Patagonia (De Agostini, 1949). Today, space technology such as NASA’s ICESat Missions and Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) data, allow to monitor changes in glaciers over time.

Several ongoing projects are trying to detect plastic pollution in oceans by using Space technology

The ocean is where life began. It is home to the majority of the Earth’s plants and animals. However, there is currently another habitant endangering all species living under and above water. Humans included. The habitant is called “Plastic”. Plastic’s largest market is packaging designed for immediate disposal (Sigogneau-Russell, 2003).

Water in the atmosphere, in the soil, in rivers and oceans is in continuous exchange via the global water cycle. This is commonly thought to be the circular movement of water that evaporates from the Earth's surface, rises on warm updrafts into the atmosphere, and condenses into clouds. It is transported by the wind as water vapour, and eventually falls back to the Earth’s surface as rain or snow.

Merci à Martin Sarret d'avoir traduit cet article volontairement.

Translated by Dr. Mengyi Jin

数字孪生技术正越来越多地应用于模拟海平面上升所带来的影响，为城市规划、海岸管理和灾害应对等领域的决策者提供了宝贵的工具。这些虚拟模型整合了包括地理空间影像、人工智能和环境监测系统等不同来源的实时数据，可以详细模拟海平面上升对特定区域产生的影响。

通过准确绘制当前的土地覆盖特征，并不断用新数据更新这些模型，数字孪生使研究人员和政府部门能够在不同的气候变化条件下对未来的情景进行预测。这有助于识别脆弱区域、规划基础防护设施以及优化疏散策略。例如，高分辨率地理空间数据可以显示哪些区域面临洪水风险，而由人工智能驱动的模拟则可以预测海平面上升可能对当地生态系统和城市环境产生的长期影响。

通过将海平面上升纳入数字孪生模拟，城市规划者和环境科学家可以充分了解其对沿海地区的长期影响，从而为气候变化带来的挑战做好更加充分的准备。这项技术对于直观呈现和科学规划适应性应对措施，从而减缓海平面上升可能造成的损害具有重要意义。

Imagine a world where your internet is delivered not through cables or cell towers but a vast swarm of orbiting satellites. That world is a very different place. Political borders are no longer communication boundaries. Your phone works just as well in the US as it does in Nigeria and Australia and Cambodia. You can communicate with people on the other side of the planet near the physical limits of information transmission, unconstrained by slow cable networks.

Since ancient times, people have established communities in river deltas because it provides water, fertile land, and transportation access, making them an ideal place to live. This pattern has been carried forward to the present. With nearly 6 billion people living in river deltas, they are one of the most densely populated places on Earth (Kuenzer and Renaud, 2011). However, they are facing threats such as climate change, sea level rise, land use changes, and ecosystem degradation.

A mangrove is defined by the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History as

“a woody tree or shrub that lives along sheltered coastlines within the tropic or subtropic latitudes” (Teutli-Hernández et al. 2020).

Translated by Marina Agarkova

Translated by Dr. Mengyi Jin

夏季来临时，热带气旋常在沿海地区引发洪涝灾害。早在古代，中国沿海的渔民就通过观察天气现象来预测热带气旋的来临，例如云层的形状和晚霞的变化。热带气旋发生在全球各地，不同地区对它的称呼也有所不同。在北大西洋、中北太平洋和东北太平洋地区，人们通常称之为“飓风”；而在西北太平洋地区，热带气旋常被称为“台风”。

近年来，热带气旋对美国、中国以及其他亚洲国家造成了重大损失。因此，发展基于太空的热带气旋监测技术，预测其路径并进行预警，对于保障民众的生命安全、保护渔业生产以及海上作业等具有重要意义。

双频降水雷达（Dual-frequency Precipitation Radar，简称 DPR）是由美国国家航空航天局（NASA）与日本宇宙航空研究开发机构（JAXA）联合开发的天基雷达系统，其搭载于热带降雨测量任务（TRMM）和全球降水观测计划（GPM）的卫星上（https://gpm.nasa.gov/missions/GPM/DPR），用于热带气旋的监测与科学研究（NASA，2018）。

Merci à Maria Nagui d'avoir traduit cet article volontairement.

Translated by Isabel Zetina 

Translated by: Isabel Zetina

Have you ever questioned if there would be enough food at the store for everyone in your community? If you frequent a grocery store or market, probably not. Every Sunday I go to the grocery store with a list of foods I’ll need for the week and no contingency plan for what to do if there isn’t enough. If something is out of stock, I’ll just go to the next grocery store down the road. We take it for granted that certain foods will always be available for us to purchase. However, many people do not have the luxury of a reliable food source.

Translated by Dr. Mengyi Jin

短时强降雨或长期干旱等极端天气事件往往会对地区经济、生态系统以及城市社区的正常运行造成负面影响。这些极端天气事件和大气中气溶胶的存在密切相关。气溶胶是悬浮于空气中的微小颗粒，它能够改变云的性质和降水过程，从而影响整个水文循环。因此，深入理解气溶胶、云以及水文循环之间的相互作用，对于应对气候变化具有重要意义。

近年来，随着太空技术的不断发展，尤其是卫星遥感技术的突破，气溶胶研究取得了重大进展。例如激光雷达（LiDAR）和多角度成像光谱辐射计等卫星遥感技术的广泛应用，使科学家们能够获取大气中气溶胶分布及其动态变化的高精度监测数据。这些数据有助于科学家们深入探讨气溶胶、降水以及水资源分布之间的关联（Winker等, 2009）。通过大量实时监测数据，卫星遥感技术不仅提升了对水文循环的预测能力，也为提出应对水资源危机的政策建议提供了有力支持。

Translated by: Isabel Zetina

No hace mucho, en 1916, el explorador Padre De Agostini inspeccionó parte de la topografía de los glaciares Escondidos de la Patagonia (De Agostini, 1949). Hoy en día, la tecnología espacial, como las misiones ICESat de la NASA y los datos de la Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM), permiten seguir los cambios de los glaciares a lo largo del tiempo.

Translated by Isabel Zetina

Varios proyectos en curso intentan detectar la contaminación por plásticos en los océanos mediante tecnología espacial

Merci à Mussa Kachunga Stanis d'avoir traduit cet article volontairement.

Recently, in July 2021, destructive and deadly floods occurred in Western Europe. The estimated insured losses only in Germany could approach 5 billion Euros (AIR Worldwide, 2021). However, the total amount of the damage is currently not foreseeable due to the variety and complexity of the damage patterns and the unbelievable extent of the disaster. It seems the socio-economic losses will dramatically increase and break a new record in the insurance industry after evaluating the complete record of damages’ reports (see Figure 1).

On 2 February 2020, we celebrate World Wetlands Day to raise global awareness about the vital role of wetlands for people and our planet. This year’s edition highlights the connection between water, wetlands, and life.

Forest cover refers to the extent of land area covered by forests. It can be expressed either as a percentage relative to the total land area or in absolute terms measured in square kilometers or square miles (ScienceDirect). As of 2020, globally, forests account for 31 percent of the land area with roughly half of this area considered relatively intact. The total forest coverage is 4.06 billion hectares.

In 2019, floods caused 43.5% of all deaths due to natural disasters and thereby represent the deadliest type of disaster with an increasing number of events compared to previous years (CRED, 2019). Floods furthermore lead to the highest number of people affected compared to other disasters as they affect human activities and the economy (CRED, 2019; Elagib et al. 2019).

Translated by Marina Agarkova

The impacts of climate change are ever more apparent. The frequency and scale of devastation and destruction of weather hazards are on an increasing trend. According to the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Report (IPCC, 2021) climate change is intensifying the water cycle. This will cause more intense droughts in many regions. Moreover, water-related extremes impact the quality of life disproportionately strong. Drought accounts for 25% of all losses from weather-related disasters in the United States of America (Hayes et al., 2012).

Environ 40 % de la population mondiale vit à moins de cent kilomètres des côtes (Nations unies, 2017).  Le niveau des mers est en hausse dans le monde entier et la tendance s'accélère chaque année. L'ONU, d'innombrables organisations internationales et des agences nationales travaillent ardemment chaque année pour soutenir les efforts des climatologues afin de modéliser avec précision notre climat changeant. Le rôle de la glace dans le modelage des mers de la Terre est indiscutable.

Merci à Denis Gringas d'avoir traduit cet article volontairement.

Merci à Martin Sarret d'avoir traduit cet article volontairement.

 Translated by Isabel Zetina

Can you imagine a group of young women empowering other women using geospatial technology? From July 10 to 13 July 2019 in the First Geospatial Rally for Women in Rural Aqueducts took place, where 30 women from very different contexts met with the same goal, to build an empowering space, in the Nicoya Campus (north of Costa Rica) of the University of Costa Rica (UCR). This was done with the intention to learn from each other.

Extreme weather events, such as sudden downpours or prolonged droughts, disrupt economies, ecosystems, and communities. These events are closely linked to aerosols—tiny atmospheric particles that influence the hydrological cycle by altering cloud properties and precipitation. Understanding the interactions between aerosols, clouds, and the hydrological cycle is essential for managing climate variability.

It was not long ago, in 1916, that the explorer Padre De Agostini surveyed part of the topography of the Escondidos glaciers (“hidden glaciers”, in English) in Patagonia (De Agostini, 1949). Today, space technology such as NASA’s ICESat Missions and Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) data, allow to monitor changes in glaciers over time.

Several ongoing projects are trying to detect plastic pollution in oceans by using Space technology

The ocean is where life began. It is home to the majority of the Earth’s plants and animals. However, there is currently another habitant endangering all species living under and above water. Humans included. The habitant is called “Plastic”. Plastic’s largest market is packaging designed for immediate disposal (Sigogneau-Russell, 2003).

Water in the atmosphere, in the soil, in rivers and oceans is in continuous exchange via the global water cycle. This is commonly thought to be the circular movement of water that evaporates from the Earth's surface, rises on warm updrafts into the atmosphere, and condenses into clouds. It is transported by the wind as water vapour, and eventually falls back to the Earth’s surface as rain or snow.

Introduction 

Snow has a crucial contribution to Earth’s climate and helps to maintain the Earth’s temperature. When snow melts, it aids in providing water to people for their livelihood and affects the survival of animals and plants (National Snow and Ice Data Center). Approximately 1.2 billion people - constituting one-sixth of the global population - depend on snowmelt water for both agricultural activities and human consumption (Barnett et al., 2005).

Merci à Martin Sarret d'avoir traduit cet article volontairement.

Coral reefs provide integral services to social, economic, and ecological systems. They support more than 500 million livelihoods worldwide and account for 15% of gross domestic product in more than 20 countries. A quarter of all marine species on planet Earth, representing 28 of the 35 animal phyla, can be found in coral reefs, and novel compounds derived from these organisms provide numerous useful medicinal applications.

Imagine a world where your internet is delivered not through cables or cell towers but a vast swarm of orbiting satellites. That world is a very different place. Political borders are no longer communication boundaries. Your phone works just as well in the US as it does in Nigeria and Australia and Cambodia. You can communicate with people on the other side of the planet near the physical limits of information transmission, unconstrained by slow cable networks.

Since ancient times, people have established communities in river deltas because it provides water, fertile land, and transportation access, making them an ideal place to live. This pattern has been carried forward to the present. With nearly 6 billion people living in river deltas, they are one of the most densely populated places on Earth (Kuenzer and Renaud, 2011). However, they are facing threats such as climate change, sea level rise, land use changes, and ecosystem degradation.

Translated by Marina Agarkova

Digital twin technology is increasingly being used to simulate the effects of sea level rise, providing valuable tools for decision-makers in areas such as urban planning, coastal management, and disaster preparedness. These virtual models integrate real-time data from various sources, including geospatial imagery, AI, and environmental monitoring systems, to create detailed simulations of how rising sea levels could impact specific regions. 

Merci à Maria Nagui d'avoir traduit cet article volontairement.

Seriez-vous en mesure d´imaginer un groupe de jeunes femmes impliquées dans l´émancipation des femmes par le biais des technologies géospatiales ? Cela s´est passé du 10 au 13 juillet 2019 dans le premier rallye géospatial dédié aux femmes et aux aqueducs ruraux. Lors de cet évènement, trente femmes issues de contextes très différents se sont réunies avec le même objectif, construire un espace dédié à cette mission, sur le Campus de Nicoya (nord du Costa Rica) de l'Université du Costa Rica (UCR).

Translated by: Isabel Zetina

Translated by: Isabel Zetina

Translated by Dr. Mengyi Jin

短时强降雨或长期干旱等极端天气事件往往会对地区经济、生态系统以及城市社区的正常运行造成负面影响。这些极端天气事件和大气中气溶胶的存在密切相关。气溶胶是悬浮于空气中的微小颗粒，它能够改变云的性质和降水过程，从而影响整个水文循环。因此，深入理解气溶胶、云以及水文循环之间的相互作用，对于应对气候变化具有重要意义。

近年来，随着太空技术的不断发展，尤其是卫星遥感技术的突破，气溶胶研究取得了重大进展。例如激光雷达（LiDAR）和多角度成像光谱辐射计等卫星遥感技术的广泛应用，使科学家们能够获取大气中气溶胶分布及其动态变化的高精度监测数据。这些数据有助于科学家们深入探讨气溶胶、降水以及水资源分布之间的关联（Winker等, 2009）。通过大量实时监测数据，卫星遥感技术不仅提升了对水文循环的预测能力，也为提出应对水资源危机的政策建议提供了有力支持。

C’est encore récemment, en 1916, que l’explorateur Padre De Agostini révéla une partie de la topographie des glaciers Escondidos (« glaciers caches » en francais). En Patagonie (De Agostini, 1949).

Plusieurs projets en cours tentent  de détecter la pollution plastique dans les océans en utilisant la technologie spatiale.

L’océan est où la vie a commencé. Il abrite la majorité des plantes et des animaux de la Terre. Cependant, il y a actuellement un autre habitant qui met en danger toutes les espèces vivantes sous et au-dessus de l’eau, les humains inclus. Cet habitant est appelé « plastique ». Le plus grand marché du plastique est celui des emballages destinés à l’élimination immédiate (Sigogneau-Russell, 2003).

Merci à Mussa Kachunga Stanis d'avoir traduit cet article volontairement.

Merci à Mussa Kachunga Stanis d'avoir traduit cet article volontairement.

Translated by: Isabel Zetina 

El 2 de febrero de 2020 celebramos el Día Mundial de los Humedales para concienciar al mundo sobre el papel vital de los humedales para las personas y nuestro planeta. La edición de este año destaca la conexión entre el agua, los humedales y la vida.

In 2019, floods caused 43.5% of all deaths due to natural disasters and thereby represent the deadliest type of disaster with an increasing number of events compared to previous years (CRED, 2019). Floods furthermore lead to the highest number of people affected compared to other disasters as they affect human activities and the economy (CRED, 2019; Elagib et al. 2019).

Translated by Marina Agarkova

The impacts of climate change are ever more apparent. The frequency and scale of devastation and destruction of weather hazards are on an increasing trend. According to the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Report (IPCC, 2021) climate change is intensifying the water cycle. This will cause more intense droughts in many regions. Moreover, water-related extremes impact the quality of life disproportionately strong. Drought accounts for 25% of all losses from weather-related disasters in the United States of America (Hayes et al., 2012).

Merci à Denis Gringas d'avoir traduit cet article volontairement.

During the summer season tropical cyclones (TC) tend to cause flood disasters over coastal areas. In ancient times fishermen along the coast of China predicted the coming of tropical cyclones by observing weather phenomena. They observed the shape of clouds and the sunset glow to anticipate them. Tropical cyclones occur in various places where they are named differently as well. In the North Atlantic, central North Pacific, and eastern North Pacific the term hurricane is used. The same type of disturbance in the Northwest Pacific is called a typhoon.

Merci à Martin Sarret d'avoir traduit cet article volontairement.

 Translated by Isabel Zetina

Can you imagine a group of young women empowering other women using geospatial technology? From July 10 to 13 July 2019 in the First Geospatial Rally for Women in Rural Aqueducts took place, where 30 women from very different contexts met with the same goal, to build an empowering space, in the Nicoya Campus (north of Costa Rica) of the University of Costa Rica (UCR). This was done with the intention to learn from each other.

About 40% of the World’s population lives within 100 km of the coast (United Nations 2017).  Sea levels are on the rise around the World and the trend is accelerating every year. The UN, countless international organizations and national agencies are working hard every year to support the efforts of climate scientists to accurately model our changing climate. The role of ice in shaping the Earth’s seas is indisputable. As continental ice melts and as ice sheets break off from continental shelves and fall into the sea, more and more coastal communities are threatened.

Have you ever questioned if there would be enough food at the store for everyone in your community? If you frequent a grocery store or market, probably not. Every Sunday I go to the grocery store with a list of foods I’ll need for the week and no contingency plan for what to do if there isn’t enough. If something is out of stock, I’ll just go to the next grocery store down the road. We take it for granted that certain foods will always be available for us to purchase. However, many people do not have the luxury of a reliable food source.

Translated by Marina Agarkova

It was not long ago, in 1916, that the explorer Padre De Agostini surveyed part of the topography of the Escondidos glaciers (“hidden glaciers”, in English) in Patagonia (De Agostini, 1949). Today, space technology such as NASA’s ICESat Missions and Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) data, allow to monitor changes in glaciers over time.

Several ongoing projects are trying to detect plastic pollution in oceans by using Space technology

The ocean is where life began. It is home to the majority of the Earth’s plants and animals. However, there is currently another habitant endangering all species living under and above water. Humans included. The habitant is called “Plastic”. Plastic’s largest market is packaging designed for immediate disposal (Sigogneau-Russell, 2003).

Translated by: Isabel Zetina

Translated by Marina Agarkova

В 2019 году наводнения стали причиной 43,5% всех смертей в результате стихийных бедствий и, таким образом, представляют собой самый смертоносный тип бедствия с растущим числом событий по сравнению с предыдущими годами (CRED, 2019). Кроме того, наводнения приводят к наибольшему числу пострадавших людей по сравнению с другими бедствиями, поскольку они влияют на деятельность человека и экономику (CRED, 2019; Elagib et al. 2019).

Coral reefs provide integral services to social, economic, and ecological systems. They support more than 500 million livelihoods worldwide and account for 15% of gross domestic product in more than 20 countries. A quarter of all marine species on planet Earth, representing 28 of the 35 animal phyla, can be found in coral reefs, and novel compounds derived from these organisms provide numerous useful medicinal applications.

From 10 to 13 May 2022, the United Nations Officer for Outer Space Affairs organized the 5th International conference on the use of space technology for water resources management. The conference was hosted in a hybrid format in Accra, Ghana, by the University of Energy and Natural Resources, Sunyani on behalf of the Government of Ghana. The event was attended by several senior government representatives of the host country including Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, the Honorary Minister of Education Dr.

Merci à Martin Sarret d'avoir traduit cet article volontairement.

Translated by Dr. Mengyi Jin

自古以来，河流三角洲因水资源丰富、土壤肥沃及交通便利而成为人类聚居的重要区域。这一格局延续至今。目前，生活在三角洲地区的人口已接近 60 亿，使其成为全球人口最稠密的地区之一（Kuenzer 和 Renaud，2011）。然而，这些三角洲地区正面临着气候变化、海平面上升、土地利用方式转变以及生态系统退化等威胁。遥感技术在获取环境状况及其时序变化方面具有显著优势，其在识别灾害前兆信号、预测自然现象演变等方面发挥着关键作用。在三角洲地区，遥感已被广泛应用于海岸线变化监测、洪水监测与预测等领域（Merkuryeva 等，2015；Li 和 Damen，2010）。持续开展三角洲监测不仅有助于维护其生态功能，还能及时识别潜在风险，并为科学管理提供重要依据，而遥感正是实现这一目标的关键技术。

Translated by Marina Agarkova

Digital twin technology is increasingly being used to simulate the effects of sea level rise, providing valuable tools for decision-makers in areas such as urban planning, coastal management, and disaster preparedness. These virtual models integrate real-time data from various sources, including geospatial imagery, AI, and environmental monitoring systems, to create detailed simulations of how rising sea levels could impact specific regions. 

Seriez-vous en mesure d´imaginer un groupe de jeunes femmes impliquées dans l´émancipation des femmes par le biais des technologies géospatiales ? Cela s´est passé du 10 au 13 juillet 2019 dans le premier rallye géospatial dédié aux femmes et aux aqueducs ruraux. Lors de cet évènement, trente femmes issues de contextes très différents se sont réunies avec le même objectif, construire un espace dédié à cette mission, sur le Campus de Nicoya (nord du Costa Rica) de l'Université du Costa Rica (UCR).

Translated by: Isabel Zetina

Translated by: Isabel Zetina

Translated by Dr. Mengyi Jin

短时强降雨或长期干旱等极端天气事件往往会对地区经济、生态系统以及城市社区的正常运行造成负面影响。这些极端天气事件和大气中气溶胶的存在密切相关。气溶胶是悬浮于空气中的微小颗粒，它能够改变云的性质和降水过程，从而影响整个水文循环。因此，深入理解气溶胶、云以及水文循环之间的相互作用，对于应对气候变化具有重要意义。

近年来，随着太空技术的不断发展，尤其是卫星遥感技术的突破，气溶胶研究取得了重大进展。例如激光雷达（LiDAR）和多角度成像光谱辐射计等卫星遥感技术的广泛应用，使科学家们能够获取大气中气溶胶分布及其动态变化的高精度监测数据。这些数据有助于科学家们深入探讨气溶胶、降水以及水资源分布之间的关联（Winker等, 2009）。通过大量实时监测数据，卫星遥感技术不仅提升了对水文循环的预测能力，也为提出应对水资源危机的政策建议提供了有力支持。

When we think about geospatial technology, many of us imagine satellites for Earth observation and navigation, drones, and complex sensors used to collect information from the terrestrial surface. We also believe that most of the people capable of developing applications using geospatial data should hold a science-related Master or Ph.D. degree. The previous statement could not be further from the truth. Advances in technology have made access to geospatial technology possible for everybody.  

C’est encore récemment, en 1916, que l’explorateur Padre De Agostini révéla une partie de la topographie des glaciers Escondidos (« glaciers caches » en francais). En Patagonie (De Agostini, 1949).

Plusieurs projets en cours tentent  de détecter la pollution plastique dans les océans en utilisant la technologie spatiale.

L’océan est où la vie a commencé. Il abrite la majorité des plantes et des animaux de la Terre. Cependant, il y a actuellement un autre habitant qui met en danger toutes les espèces vivantes sous et au-dessus de l’eau, les humains inclus. Cet habitant est appelé « plastique ». Le plus grand marché du plastique est celui des emballages destinés à l’élimination immédiate (Sigogneau-Russell, 2003).

Merci à Mussa Kachunga Stanis d'avoir traduit cet article volontairement.

Merci à Mussa Kachunga Stanis d'avoir traduit cet article volontairement.

Translated by: Isabel Zetina 

El 2 de febrero de 2020 celebramos el Día Mundial de los Humedales para concienciar al mundo sobre el papel vital de los humedales para las personas y nuestro planeta. La edición de este año destaca la conexión entre el agua, los humedales y la vida.

In 2019, floods caused 43.5% of all deaths due to natural disasters and thereby represent the deadliest type of disaster with an increasing number of events compared to previous years (CRED, 2019). Floods furthermore lead to the highest number of people affected compared to other disasters as they affect human activities and the economy (CRED, 2019; Elagib et al. 2019).

Translated by Dr. Mengyi Jin

数字孪生技术正越来越多地应用于模拟海平面上升所带来的影响，为城市规划、海岸管理和灾害应对等领域的决策者提供了宝贵的工具。这些虚拟模型整合了包括地理空间影像、人工智能和环境监测系统等不同来源的实时数据，可以详细模拟海平面上升对特定区域产生的影响。

通过准确绘制当前的土地覆盖特征，并不断用新数据更新这些模型，数字孪生使研究人员和政府部门能够在不同的气候变化条件下对未来的情景进行预测。这有助于识别脆弱区域、规划基础防护设施以及优化疏散策略。例如，高分辨率地理空间数据可以显示哪些区域面临洪水风险，而由人工智能驱动的模拟则可以预测海平面上升可能对当地生态系统和城市环境产生的长期影响。

通过将海平面上升纳入数字孪生模拟，城市规划者和环境科学家可以充分了解其对沿海地区的长期影响，从而为气候变化带来的挑战做好更加充分的准备。这项技术对于直观呈现和科学规划适应性应对措施，从而减缓海平面上升可能造成的损害具有重要意义。

In recent years, with the rapid development of satellite-based Earth observation technologies, more and more quasi-global satellite products observe the Earth.

Merci à Mussa Kachunga Stanis d'avoir traduit cet article volontairement.

Merci à Denis Gringas d'avoir traduit cet article volontairement.

During the summer season tropical cyclones (TC) tend to cause flood disasters over coastal areas. In ancient times fishermen along the coast of China predicted the coming of tropical cyclones by observing weather phenomena. They observed the shape of clouds and the sunset glow to anticipate them. Tropical cyclones occur in various places where they are named differently as well. In the North Atlantic, central North Pacific, and eastern North Pacific the term hurricane is used. The same type of disturbance in the Northwest Pacific is called a typhoon.

 Translated by Isabel Zetina

Translated by Isabel Zetina 

About 40% of the World’s population lives within 100 km of the coast (United Nations 2017).  Sea levels are on the rise around the World and the trend is accelerating every year. The UN, countless international organizations and national agencies are working hard every year to support the efforts of climate scientists to accurately model our changing climate. The role of ice in shaping the Earth’s seas is indisputable. As continental ice melts and as ice sheets break off from continental shelves and fall into the sea, more and more coastal communities are threatened.

Have you ever questioned if there would be enough food at the store for everyone in your community? If you frequent a grocery store or market, probably not. Every Sunday I go to the grocery store with a list of foods I’ll need for the week and no contingency plan for what to do if there isn’t enough. If something is out of stock, I’ll just go to the next grocery store down the road. We take it for granted that certain foods will always be available for us to purchase. However, many people do not have the luxury of a reliable food source.

Translated by Marina Agarkova

Translated by: Isabel Zetina

No hace mucho, en 1916, el explorador Padre De Agostini inspeccionó parte de la topografía de los glaciares Escondidos de la Patagonia (De Agostini, 1949). Hoy en día, la tecnología espacial, como las misiones ICESat de la NASA y los datos de la Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM), permiten seguir los cambios de los glaciares a lo largo del tiempo.

Translated by Isabel Zetina

Varios proyectos en curso intentan detectar la contaminación por plásticos en los océanos mediante tecnología espacial

Translated by: Isabel Zetina

Climate has become a subject of global concern, especially in recent decades. Climate models are practical tools that can simulate physical processes and predict future change. However, because of the complexity of atmospheric, ocean, and land processes, scientists are faced with significantly large uncertainties in climate models. As world leaders grapple with the urgency of climate action, the role of space-based technology and data has become increasingly critical. Various observed climatic variables (e.g.

Translated by Marina Agarkova

В 2019 году наводнения стали причиной 43,5% всех смертей в результате стихийных бедствий и, таким образом, представляют собой самый смертоносный тип бедствия с растущим числом событий по сравнению с предыдущими годами (CRED, 2019). Кроме того, наводнения приводят к наибольшему числу пострадавших людей по сравнению с другими бедствиями, поскольку они влияют на деятельность человека и экономику (CRED, 2019; Elagib et al. 2019).

Translated by Marina Agarkova

Merci à Martin Sarret d'avoir traduit cet article volontairement.

Translated by Dr. Mengyi Jin

自古以来，河流三角洲因水资源丰富、土壤肥沃及交通便利而成为人类聚居的重要区域。这一格局延续至今。目前，生活在三角洲地区的人口已接近 60 亿，使其成为全球人口最稠密的地区之一（Kuenzer 和 Renaud，2011）。然而，这些三角洲地区正面临着气候变化、海平面上升、土地利用方式转变以及生态系统退化等威胁。遥感技术在获取环境状况及其时序变化方面具有显著优势，其在识别灾害前兆信号、预测自然现象演变等方面发挥着关键作用。在三角洲地区，遥感已被广泛应用于海岸线变化监测、洪水监测与预测等领域（Merkuryeva 等，2015；Li 和 Damen，2010）。持续开展三角洲监测不仅有助于维护其生态功能，还能及时识别潜在风险，并为科学管理提供重要依据，而遥感正是实现这一目标的关键技术。

Translated by Marina Agarkova

Digital twin technology is increasingly being used to simulate the effects of sea level rise, providing valuable tools for decision-makers in areas such as urban planning, coastal management, and disaster preparedness. These virtual models integrate real-time data from various sources, including geospatial imagery, AI, and environmental monitoring systems, to create detailed simulations of how rising sea levels could impact specific regions. 

Seriez-vous en mesure d´imaginer un groupe de jeunes femmes impliquées dans l´émancipation des femmes par le biais des technologies géospatiales ? Cela s´est passé du 10 au 13 juillet 2019 dans le premier rallye géospatial dédié aux femmes et aux aqueducs ruraux. Lors de cet évènement, trente femmes issues de contextes très différents se sont réunies avec le même objectif, construire un espace dédié à cette mission, sur le Campus de Nicoya (nord du Costa Rica) de l'Université du Costa Rica (UCR).

Environ 40 % de la population mondiale vit à moins de cent kilomètres des côtes (Nations unies, 2017).  Le niveau des mers est en hausse dans le monde entier et la tendance s'accélère chaque année. L'ONU, d'innombrables organisations internationales et des agences nationales travaillent ardemment chaque année pour soutenir les efforts des climatologues afin de modéliser avec précision notre climat changeant. Le rôle de la glace dans le modelage des mers de la Terre est indiscutable.

Translated by: Isabel Zetina

Introduction

With the rapid advancement of urbanization, urban water environments are facing unprecedented challenges (Chen et al. 2015). The continuous expansion of impervious surfaces has disrupted the natural water cycle, resulting in rapid stormwater runoff, increased frequency of urban flooding, and reduced groundwater recharge. At the same time, worsening water pollution and the intensifying urban heat island effect further highlight the limitations of traditional urban planning and design in adapting to hydrological systems.

When we think about geospatial technology, many of us imagine satellites for Earth observation and navigation, drones, and complex sensors used to collect information from the terrestrial surface. We also believe that most of the people capable of developing applications using geospatial data should hold a science-related Master or Ph.D. degree. The previous statement could not be further from the truth. Advances in technology have made access to geospatial technology possible for everybody.  

C’est encore récemment, en 1916, que l’explorateur Padre De Agostini révéla une partie de la topographie des glaciers Escondidos (« glaciers caches » en francais). En Patagonie (De Agostini, 1949).

Plusieurs projets en cours tentent  de détecter la pollution plastique dans les océans en utilisant la technologie spatiale.

L’océan est où la vie a commencé. Il abrite la majorité des plantes et des animaux de la Terre. Cependant, il y a actuellement un autre habitant qui met en danger toutes les espèces vivantes sous et au-dessus de l’eau, les humains inclus. Cet habitant est appelé « plastique ». Le plus grand marché du plastique est celui des emballages destinés à l’élimination immédiate (Sigogneau-Russell, 2003).

Extreme weather events, such as sudden downpours or prolonged droughts, disrupt economies, ecosystems, and communities. These events are closely linked to aerosols—tiny atmospheric particles that influence the hydrological cycle by altering cloud properties and precipitation. Understanding the interactions between aerosols, clouds, and the hydrological cycle is essential for managing climate variability.

On September 10th of 2023, Storm Daniel made landfall in northeastern Libya, bringing torrential levels of rain and strong winds (Figure 1). This onslaught of rain caused two big dams in the region to break – the Abu Mansour dam and the Derna dam, 75 metres and 45 metres tall respectively. It is believed that the Abu Mansour dam broke first, after its reservoir was filled beyond capacity. The dam collapsed and sent a rush of water towards the Derna dam further downstream (Figure 2).

Water in the atmosphere, in the soil, in rivers and oceans is in continuous exchange via the global water cycle. This is commonly thought to be the circular movement of water that evaporates from the Earth's surface, rises on warm updrafts into the atmosphere, and condenses into clouds. It is transported by the wind as water vapour, and eventually falls back to the Earth’s surface as rain or snow.

Merci à Martin Sarret d'avoir traduit cet article volontairement.

Translated by Dr. Mengyi Jin

数字孪生技术正越来越多地应用于模拟海平面上升所带来的影响，为城市规划、海岸管理和灾害应对等领域的决策者提供了宝贵的工具。这些虚拟模型整合了包括地理空间影像、人工智能和环境监测系统等不同来源的实时数据，可以详细模拟海平面上升对特定区域产生的影响。

通过准确绘制当前的土地覆盖特征，并不断用新数据更新这些模型，数字孪生使研究人员和政府部门能够在不同的气候变化条件下对未来的情景进行预测。这有助于识别脆弱区域、规划基础防护设施以及优化疏散策略。例如，高分辨率地理空间数据可以显示哪些区域面临洪水风险，而由人工智能驱动的模拟则可以预测海平面上升可能对当地生态系统和城市环境产生的长期影响。

通过将海平面上升纳入数字孪生模拟，城市规划者和环境科学家可以充分了解其对沿海地区的长期影响，从而为气候变化带来的挑战做好更加充分的准备。这项技术对于直观呈现和科学规划适应性应对措施，从而减缓海平面上升可能造成的损害具有重要意义。

Merci à Mussa Kachunga Stanis d'avoir traduit cet article volontairement.

Merci à Denis Gringas d'avoir traduit cet article volontairement.

Translated by Dr. Mengyi Jin

夏季来临时，热带气旋常在沿海地区引发洪涝灾害。早在古代，中国沿海的渔民就通过观察天气现象来预测热带气旋的来临，例如云层的形状和晚霞的变化。热带气旋发生在全球各地，不同地区对它的称呼也有所不同。在北大西洋、中北太平洋和东北太平洋地区，人们通常称之为“飓风”；而在西北太平洋地区，热带气旋常被称为“台风”。

近年来，热带气旋对美国、中国以及其他亚洲国家造成了重大损失。因此，发展基于太空的热带气旋监测技术，预测其路径并进行预警，对于保障民众的生命安全、保护渔业生产以及海上作业等具有重要意义。

双频降水雷达（Dual-frequency Precipitation Radar，简称 DPR）是由美国国家航空航天局（NASA）与日本宇宙航空研究开发机构（JAXA）联合开发的天基雷达系统，其搭载于热带降雨测量任务（TRMM）和全球降水观测计划（GPM）的卫星上（https://gpm.nasa.gov/missions/GPM/DPR），用于热带气旋的监测与科学研究（NASA，2018）。

Merci à Maria Nagui d'avoir traduit cet article volontairement.

Translated by Isabel Zetina 

About 40% of the World’s population lives within 100 km of the coast (United Nations 2017).  Sea levels are on the rise around the World and the trend is accelerating every year. The UN, countless international organizations and national agencies are working hard every year to support the efforts of climate scientists to accurately model our changing climate. The role of ice in shaping the Earth’s seas is indisputable. As continental ice melts and as ice sheets break off from continental shelves and fall into the sea, more and more coastal communities are threatened.

Have you ever questioned if there would be enough food at the store for everyone in your community? If you frequent a grocery store or market, probably not. Every Sunday I go to the grocery store with a list of foods I’ll need for the week and no contingency plan for what to do if there isn’t enough. If something is out of stock, I’ll just go to the next grocery store down the road. We take it for granted that certain foods will always be available for us to purchase. However, many people do not have the luxury of a reliable food source.

Translated by Marina Agarkova

The provision of water resources is one of the most fundamental ecosystem services . An acute scarcity of water data in both, the spatial and temporal domains in many regions prompts the urgency to assess risks related to water such as water quality decline, floods and droughts. Remote sensing does provide us with relevant data for water resources monitoring, but this data still needs to be validated with in-situ observations and measurements.

Translated by: Isabel Zetina

No hace mucho, en 1916, el explorador Padre De Agostini inspeccionó parte de la topografía de los glaciares Escondidos de la Patagonia (De Agostini, 1949). Hoy en día, la tecnología espacial, como las misiones ICESat de la NASA y los datos de la Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM), permiten seguir los cambios de los glaciares a lo largo del tiempo.

Translated by Isabel Zetina

Varios proyectos en curso intentan detectar la contaminación por plásticos en los océanos mediante tecnología espacial

Translated by: Isabel Zetina

Translated by Marina Agarkova

В 2019 году наводнения стали причиной 43,5% всех смертей в результате стихийных бедствий и, таким образом, представляют собой самый смертоносный тип бедствия с растущим числом событий по сравнению с предыдущими годами (CRED, 2019). Кроме того, наводнения приводят к наибольшему числу пострадавших людей по сравнению с другими бедствиями, поскольку они влияют на деятельность человека и экономику (CRED, 2019; Elagib et al. 2019).

How do you professionally relate to water and/or space technologies?

As a hydrologist, I’ve always been fascinated by the potential of space technologies in transforming water resource management. My work integrates satellite-based Earth Observation (EO) data with hydrological modelling, particularly for drought and flood monitoring, and water availability assessments in regions with scarce ground data. EO technologies allow me to capture real-time, high-resolution data, critical for climate resilience, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa.

How do you personally and professionally relate to water? 

Growing up in Israel, water scarcity was a constant backdrop to my childhood. The arid climate and frequent droughts shaped my relationship with water from an early age. One vivid memory that remains stamped in my mind is the series of TV campaigns highlighting the importance of water conservation. I recall sitting in front of the television, concerned by the urgency conveyed in those campaigns. The images of dry landscapes and the emphasis on every drop of water as precious left a lasting impression.

Describe experience relating to water and space technologies

I grew up in a country (France) where water is freely available. The drought in 2003 was considered a one-time event. I had no single lesson on climate change at school. Despite this background, I was raised aware of the links between social and environmental inequality on a global scale.

How do your professional career and/or your personal experience relate to space technologies and water?

My interest in water is deeply rooted in my personal life. I grew up on an island in the Philippines where a lot of people depend on water as a source of livelihood. From fishing in the open sea to fish breeding, water has always been a source of income at home. Aside from this, the small community where I grew up struggled with access to running water.

How do you personally and professionally relate to water and/or space technologies?

Water and space technologies are deeply intertwined with my research focus and professional journey. My work primarily revolves around studying the impacts of climate change and human activities on ecosystems, particularly in mountainous regions like the Alps. Water is a crucial component in this context, as it plays a significant role in both vegetation dynamics and ecosystem health.

Please describe how your professional (and/or personal) experience relates to space technologies and their applications to water resources management.

I am an expert in hydroinformatics, mainly involved in research projects and research supervision of MSc and PhD students. My research focusses on physically based models for inland waters (rivers and lakes). One of the major fields where modelling is used in water resources is flooding. In order to have adequate representation of floods, most models require large amounts of data, both for model building and model usage.

You are currently a Senior Fellow and Cluster Coordinator: Nature, Climate, and Health at UNU – CRIS, can you elaborate on your role, and how it relates to water?

The world faces big problems like climate change, water shortages, and health issues. At UNU CRIS, our Nature, Climate, and Health Cluster studies how these problems are linked. We see that climate change makes things like water and food scarce, which hurts people's health. Our research shows how climate change affects water, food, and health security.

Could you describe how your professional and/or personal experience relate to water? Where does your interest in space technology for water come from? 

I have a solid understanding of the fundamentals of hydrologic and hydraulic engineering, which is relevant to water. I studied many courses in my undergraduate and postgraduate degrees where I learned how runoff in a watershed is generated from meteorological parameters including rainfall, evapotranspiration and infiltration. I also applied my theoretical knowledge to various projects.

The challenge

Water is one of the most important substances on Earth and covers 70% of the planet. However, freshwater makes up a very small fraction with 97% being saline and ocean-based. While the amount of freshwater on the planet has remained fairly constant over time, the world’s population has exploded, meaning that freshwater is threatened by significant forces, like overdevelopment, polluted runoff, and global warming. 

Are you an indigenous women or in touch with indigenous communities. Don't miss this chance to make the voices of indigenous women heard. We would like to contribute to closing the digital divide, as well as to raise the voices of indigenous women on their views realated to water and the environment.

Spread the word about this opportunity so we can reach as many Indigenous women as possible.

San José, Costa Rica, 7-10 May 2024 (with a possibility of online attendance)

Hosted and supported by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA)
Co-sponsored by the Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water (PSIPW)

Venue: Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture Headquarters, San José, Costa Rica

Contribute your inputs on the themes proposed by the co-hosts for the UN 2023 Water Conference interactive dialogues! 

The EU LIFE Programme is launching the 2025 Call for Proposals, and once again we want to help you take your green ideas to the next level. As the #ForOurPlanet campaign gets under way, there’s never been a better time to turn your vision into action! If you’ve got an idea for conserving nature, protecting the environment, taking climate action or transitioning Europe to clean energy, your project could be in for a share of the €600 million just announced for 2025.  

The ESA-ESRIN Earth System Science Hub has 5 positions open for new Post-Docs (Internal Research Fellows)

Could you describe how your professional and/or personal experience relate to water? Where does your interest in space technology for water come from? 

I have a solid understanding of the fundamentals of hydrologic and hydraulic engineering, which is relevant to water. I studied many courses in my undergraduate and postgraduate degrees where I learned how runoff in a watershed is generated from meteorological parameters including rainfall, evapotranspiration and infiltration. I also applied my theoretical knowledge to various projects.

How do you professionally relate to water and/or space technologies?

As a hydrologist, I’ve always been fascinated by the potential of space technologies in transforming water resource management. My work integrates satellite-based Earth Observation (EO) data with hydrological modelling, particularly for drought and flood monitoring, and water availability assessments in regions with scarce ground data. EO technologies allow me to capture real-time, high-resolution data, critical for climate resilience, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Describe experience relating to water and space technologies

I grew up in a country (France) where water is freely available. The drought in 2003 was considered a one-time event. I had no single lesson on climate change at school. Despite this background, I was raised aware of the links between social and environmental inequality on a global scale.

How do your professional career and/or your personal experience relate to space technologies and water?

My interest in water is deeply rooted in my personal life. I grew up on an island in the Philippines where a lot of people depend on water as a source of livelihood. From fishing in the open sea to fish breeding, water has always been a source of income at home. Aside from this, the small community where I grew up struggled with access to running water.

How do you personally and professionally relate to water and/or space technologies?

Water and space technologies are deeply intertwined with my research focus and professional journey. My work primarily revolves around studying the impacts of climate change and human activities on ecosystems, particularly in mountainous regions like the Alps. Water is a crucial component in this context, as it plays a significant role in both vegetation dynamics and ecosystem health.

24-25 October 2023, at the Vienna International Centre

organised by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs
co-organised with the Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water (PSIPW)

 
This event is restricted to Space4Water stakeholders, featured professionals, young professionals and representatives of Indigenous communities featured on the portal.

co-organised by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA)
and the Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water (PSIPW)

co-organised by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA)
and the Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water (PSIPW)

Dear Space4Water Community,

The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), the Government of Costa Rica, and the Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water (PSIPW) were jointly organizing a conference to promote the use of space technology in water management to the benefit of developing countries.

The Conference was heldin San José, Costa Rica, from 7-10 May 2024, hosted by and with the support of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) on behalf of the Government of Costa Rica.

organised by UNOOSA in partnership with the Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water (PSIPW)
11-12 May 2023, Online
 
This event is restricted to Space4Water stakeholders, featured professionals, young professionals and representatives of Indigenous communities featured on the portal.

Registration for speakers submitting technical presentations closes on 15 April 2023.
Registration for all other participants closes on 30 April 2023.

The Office for Outer Space Affairs and the Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water organized the third Space4Water stakeholder meeting hosted in Vienna on 24 and 25 October 2023 in a hybrid format.

The present report describes the objectives of the meeting and includes details of attendance and a summary of the presentations, discussions and interactive sessions, as well as the conclusions.

The full report is available for download below.

The Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space in its sixty-fourth session, which took place form 25 August-3 September 2021 in Vienna, adopted the below on its agenda item "Space and water": 
 

1. The Committee considered the agenda item entitled “Space and water”, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 75/92.

The GCF Water Project Design Guidelines outline a structured and programmatic framework for developing climate-resilient water initiatives. To enhance water security and climate resilience, the GCF leverages innovative financing mechanisms to address critical water security areas, including:

The 2nd Space4Water Stakeholder Meeting was hosted by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs with its partner, the Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water online 11–12

Space4Water stakeholders, featured young professionals and professionals, join us in Vienna at the 1st Space4Water Stakeholder Meeting.

Dates and location

The workshop will take place on 27-28 October 2022 at the Vienna International Centre, with an opportunity to host it online, should COVID prevent travels in October.

Registration

To be considered for participation Space4Water stakeholders and featured professionals can register here.

co-organised by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA)
and the Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water (PSIPW)