NASA

NASA’s vision is to reach for new heights and reveal the unknown so that what we do and learn will benefit all humankind. To do that, thousands of people have been working around the world – and off of it – for more than 50 years, trying to answer some basic questions. What’s out there in space? How do we get there? What will we find? What can we learn there, or learn just by trying to get there, that will make life better here on Earth?

NASA conducts its work in four principal organizations, called mission directorates:

• Aeronautics: manages research focused on meeting global demand for air mobility in ways that are more environmentally friendly and sustainable, while also embracing revolutionary technology from outside aviation.
• Human Exploration and Operations: focuses on International Space Station operations, development of commercial spaceflight capabilities and human exploration beyond low-Earth orbit.
• Science: explores the Earth, solar system and universe beyond; charts the best route of discovery; and reaps the benefits of Earth and space exploration for society.
• Space Technology: rapidly develops, innovates, demonstrates, and infuses revolutionary, high-payoff technologies that enable NASA’s future missions while providing economic benefit to the nation.

NASA is part of the FRACTAL project. The Future Resilience for African Cities and Lands (FRACTAL) project is a four year project within the multi-consortiaFuture Climate for Africa (FCFA) programme. The project addresses the challenge of providing accessible, timely, applicable and defensible climate information that is needed by decision-makers operating at the city regional scale in southern Africa.

In order to contribute toward the success of the FRACTAL project NASA has joined project meetings and contributed to all FRACTAL work packages (WP) over the length of the project. Our primary role is in the analysis of agricultural projections and agricultural sector outcomes related to WP2, including changing crop production, commodity prices, rural livelihoods, and potential adaptation strategies. NASA will also contribute to the analysis of water resources in connection to land-surface hydrological modeling, and help develop scenarios for agricultural requirements related to irrigation and energy. Dr Rosenzweig (leader of the NASA GISS Climate Impacts Group) will provide overall project guidance with specific inputs on assessing urban resilience, adaptation strategies, and vulnerabilities of critical infrastructure for WP1. Dr Ruane (AgMIP Science Coordinator) will assist as needed in the development of climate change scenarios in WP3 with an eye towards ensuring the broadest possible use for agricultural impacts modeling.