From October 28 to 30, 2024, the University of Donja Gorica, MONTEVITIS’ Coordinator, organized a specialised workshop titled “Practical Introduction to the CHELSA Modelling System for Climate Data Downscaling.” The workshop was led by Christoph Menz from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), a consortium member of the project.
The workshop began with an overview of the CHELSA (Climatologies at High Resolution for the Earth’s Land Surface Areas) system, which provides high-resolution climate downscaling capabilities essential for climate-resilient viticulture. Participants were guided through the system’s components, data requirements, and technical workflows. With hands-on assistance, attendees installed CHELSA on their computers, set up necessary libraries, and explored the system’s structure, laying a robust foundation for more advanced exercises.
On the second day, the focus shifted to a comprehensive explanation of the CHELSA algorithm. Attendees participated in a step-by-step simulation exercise designed to model Montenegro’s specific climate conditions. This session included the post-processing of simulation results using the Climate Data Operators (CDO) tool, and participants received training in visualizing outputs with Panoply, a software tool for high-quality climate data visualisation.
The final day concentrated on refining and evaluating the simulations, using Python-based tools to deepen understanding of the results. A second simulation round allowed participants to address any challenges and fine-tune the climate data models. The workshop concluded with an open discussion on the diverse applications of CHELSA in climate resilience and vineyard adaptation strategies, equipping participants with insights that extend beyond the workshop and align with MONTEVITIS’s objectives.
This hands-on workshop exemplifies MONTEVITIS’s commitment to providing technical expertise and tools essential for climate resilience in viticulture, fostering a collaborative approach to sustainable vineyard management amid changing climate conditions.
