An Introduction to the MaRIUS project: Managing the Risks, Impacts and Uncertainties of drought and water Scarcity  Droughts and water scarcity pose a significant risk to societies, economies and ecosystems worldwide.  In 2012 the UK experienced the driest spring in over a century, following two dry winters.  A full drought could have led to potential losses of £1.5 billion.
Yet despite this severe economic impact, our scientific understanding of the complex drivers causing drought occurrence, duration and intensity, and our ability to characterise and predict minimise their impacts, is often inadequate.
Following the 2011-2012 UK drought experience, the MaRIUS project has received NERC funding to explore how best to manage future droughts.  This project – Managing the Risks, Impacts and Uncertainties of drought and water Scarcity (MaRIUS) will introduce a risk-based approach to drought and water scarcity in order to inform management decisions and prepare households.

An Introduction to the MaRIUS project: Managing the Risks, Impacts and Uncertainties of drought and water Scarcity Droughts and water scarcity pose a significant risk to societies, economies and ecosystems worldwide. In 2012 the UK experienced the driest spring in over a century, following two dry winters. A full drought could have led to potential losses of £1.5 billion. Yet despite this severe economic impact, our scientific understanding of the complex drivers causing drought occurrence, duration and intensity, and our ability to characterise and predict minimise their impacts, is often inadequate. Following the 2011-2012 UK drought experience, the MaRIUS project has received NERC funding to explore how best to manage future droughts. This project – Managing the Risks, Impacts and Uncertainties of drought and water Scarcity (MaRIUS) will introduce a risk-based approach to drought and water scarcity in order to inform management decisions and prepare households.

Prof Jim Hall: An Introduction to the MaRIUS project

Droughts are one of the headline strategic risks to the UK. In 2012 the UK experienced the driest spring in over a century, after two dry winters. Ministers faced the prospect of water shortages during the London Olympics. Whilst the drought conditions in early 2012 served as a wake-up call, the potential for water shortages in the UK, driven by changing patterns of demand and changing climatic conditions, had already been recognised. In the Thames Water region alone it is estimated that severe water rationing could potentially result in economic losses of £300million/day. The capacity for the natural environment to recover from periods of very low flows, deteriorated water quality, dry soils and hot temperatures is not well understood.

Following this experience, the MaRIUS project has received NERC funding to explore how best to manage future droughts.  This project – Managing the Risks, Impacts and Uncertainties of drought and water Scarcity (MaRIUS) will introduce a risk-based approach to drought and water scarcity in order to inform management decisions and prepare households.  The project is designed to capture the complexity of the water scarcity by using expertise across the social and natural sciences and with key stakeholder involvement.

The MaRIUS researchers and others have recorded a number of video podcasts to help explain the work they are doing, and the aims of the MaRIUS project.  The podcasts take the form of voice narrated slides.
You can also enjoy watching presentations from other research projects that were delivered at the 2015 Drought Symposium by other researchers examining drought and its impacts.
We hope you enjoy watching them.  Further podcasts are being planned so please come back for more!

Education

Droughts are one of the headline strategic risks to the UK. In 2012 the UK experienced the driest spring in over a century, after two dry winters. Ministers faced the prospect of water shortages during the London Olympics. Whilst the drought conditions in early 2012 served as a wake-up call, the potential for water shortages in the UK, driven by changing patterns of demand and changing climatic conditions, had already been recognised. In the Thames Water region alone it is estimated that severe water rationing could potentially result in economic losses of £300million/day. The capacity for the natural environment to recover from periods of very low flows, deteriorated water quality, dry soils and hot temperatures is not well understood. Following this experience, the MaRIUS project has received NERC funding to explore how best to manage future droughts. This project – Managing the Risks, Impacts and Uncertainties of drought and water Scarcity (MaRIUS) will introduce a risk-based approach to drought and water scarcity in order to inform management decisions and prepare households. The project is designed to capture the complexity of the water scarcity by using expertise across the social and natural sciences and with key stakeholder involvement. The MaRIUS researchers and others have recorded a number of video podcasts to help explain the work they are doing, and the aims of the MaRIUS project. The podcasts take the form of voice narrated slides. You can also enjoy watching presentations from other research projects that were delivered at the 2015 Drought Symposium by other researchers examining drought and its impacts. We hope you enjoy watching them. Further podcasts are being planned so please come back for more!

Share Prof Jim Hall: An Introduction to the MaRIUS project

Sign up to save your podcasts

Prof Jim Hall: An Introduction to the MaRIUS project

Prof Jim Hall: An Introduction to the MaRIUS project

More shows like Drought and Water Scarcity

Philosophy for Beginners

Approaching Shakespeare

Faculty of Classics

General Philosophy

Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism

Aesthetics and Philosophy of Art lectures

Theoretical Physics - From Outer Space to Plasma

Critical Reasoning: A Romp Through the Foothills of Logic

The Secrets of Mathematics

Critical Reasoning for Beginners