TomorrowNow Partners with the Kenya Meteorological Department, Tomorrow.io, and TAHMO to Enhance Rainfall Forecasting in East Africa

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TomorrowNow, a climate-tech nonprofit, in partnership with Tomorrow.io, the Kenya Meteorological Department, and the Trans-African Hydro-Meteorological Observatory (TAHMO), has announced the commissioning of five laser rain gauges (disdrometers) in Kenya and Rwanda. This initiative is part of their commitment to enhancing the quality and accessibility of weather data on the African continent, aiming to improve the accuracy of existing datasets for climate adaptation.

The partnership, which aligns with the OSIRIS initiative supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, is to deploy laser disdrometers at multiple locations. This effort aims to provide open access to high-resolution rainfall data. The Laser disdrometers offer comprehensive insights into rainfall characteristics beyond mere precipitation amounts. These advanced instruments are engineered to provide precise data on the size and velocity of raindrops within a designated area. In addition, The data obtained from laser disdrometers can significantly aid meteorologists in understanding the intensity of rainfall events. This detailed information is crucial for improving the study of flooding, soil erosion, and other hydrological impacts.

Furthermore, data from laser disdrometers can enhance the accuracy of weather prediction models by offering ground-based validation, thereby improving the reliability of satellite-based rainfall forecasts. The Laser disdrometers also generate valuable data that can enhance the accuracy and reliability of rainfall forecasting, leading to improved preparedness and response to weather-related hazards and disasters. In addition, beyond their use in forecast model validation, the deployed laser disdrometers play a crucial role in the ground validation program for Tomorrow.io’s precipitation mapping constellation, which includes Ka-band radar and millimetre-wave passive microwave sounder satellites.

“Tomorrow.io is proud to partner with TomorrowNow.org, the Kenya Meteorological Department, and TAHMO in deploying laser disdrometers across East Africa, a significant step forward in improving the accuracy and reliability of rainfall forecasting in the region,” said Joe Munchak, Senior Atmospheric Data Scientist at Tomorrow.io. “The ground-based validation data provided by these instruments will refine our satellite-based precipitation products and support the development of more effective early warning systems, ultimately empowering local communities to build resilience against the impacts of climate change.”

The primary measurement from the Tomorrow.io constellation is the surface precipitation rate. This data can be compared with ground truth measurements from ground-based radar, rain gauges, laser disdrometers, and other reliable sources to ensure accuracy. However, Laser disdrometers are particularly valuable for validating satellite precipitation retrievals because they provide comprehensive data on drop size and fall velocity distributions. Accurately converting measured radar reflectivity into surface rainfall rates depends on several assumptions, which laser disdrometers help verify.

Furthermore, laser disdrometers offer insights into potential systematic biases in Tomorrow.io’s precipitation products over East Africa, leading to enhancements in their accuracy. Validating Tomorrow.io’s remotely sensed products with these disdrometer measurements will instil confidence in stakeholders and end users regarding the reliability of real-time and forecasted precipitation data derived from the constellation observations.