Improved data collection and new services for atmospheric and climate science in Africa
Despite its low contribution to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, Africa is disproportionately affected by climate change and climate adaptation costs. While disparate climate data resources exist in Africa, the continent needs a comprehensive climate observation system with improved data quality and accessibility to underpin the development of the climate services required to mitigate and adapt to climate change. A previous EU-African Union project, SEACRIFOG(opens in new window) focused on mapping existing observations and infrastructures across Africa that were relevant to the development of climate services. The EU-funded KADI(opens in new window) project has built on this in a co-creation paradigm with local stakeholders. According to project coordinator Werner L. Kutsch of ICOS ERIC(opens in new window), “KADI strengthened pan-African data and observation research infrastructures (RIs) for atmospheric and climate services and has delivered the training required to ensure the sustainable, long-term RI development.”
Earth systems and coastal oceans
The Earth system modelling pilot increased the spatial resolution of land-surface attributes of the first African Earth system model. In addition, “new data regarding vegetation types, fire-vegetation interactions and access to soil moisture were used in the analysis of dryland ecosystems (savanna and grassland),” notes Kutsch. Comparison of model predictions to observations allowed the team to identify potential model biases across the larger region. Improved models will allow scientists to better evaluate and predict interannual variations in land-atmosphere carbon flux and to better understand the underlying drivers. “The coastal biogeochemistry pilot aimed to quantify key elements of the coastal carbon cycle and their role in regulating global climate,” Kutsch explains. KADI highlighted the need to increase observation resources and knowledge sharing for large-scale predictive models, including with low-cost sensors and mentoring programmes.
Climate drivers and urban resilience
KADI also conducted urban climate service pilots in Dar es Salaam, Nairobi and Abidjan. “The urban pilots used low-cost digital sensors and citizen science methods to develop climate services supporting prediction and adaptation to heat stress, flash floods and air pollution,” says Kutsch. For example, in Nairobi, where about half of the 5 million residents live in settlements covering 1 % of the city’s land, improved climate forecasting will increase inhabitants’ resilience to extreme heat and flash floods. In Abidjan, the lack of a real-time air quality measurement network and forecasting system posed challenges to monitoring the already high and growing levels of particulate matter, largely due to fossil fuel combustion and burning of waste associated with a rapidly increasing population. The pilot developed and tested a service producing real-time air quality indicator maps, enabling identification of causes and management of the effects of air pollution. In Dar Es Salaam, participatory mapping and community engagement, data collection, particularly in vulnerable areas of the city where rapid urban growth has heightened climate risks, helps integrate geospatial and Earth Observation data to enhance climate risk assessments and decision-making.
Training and ‘stakeholder champions’
‘Stakeholder champions’ were identified and prepared to advocate for the needs of their countries, institutions and networks. Together with KADI researchers, these stakeholder champions will be part of a community of practice that remains after the project ends. KADI has also mapped national capabilities and equipment availability and created long-term training programmes for in-depth skill development that will support national and international endeavours and dialogues. For example, practical hands-on training on coastal GHG measurements upskilled participants from 13 African countries to provide data to the ‘Surface Ocean CO2 Reference Observing Network’ (SOCONET)(opens in new window). “The work of KADI was highlighted at the opening of the International Conference on Southern Hemisphere Meteorology and Oceanography (ICSHMO),” notes Kutsch. KADI has improved the accuracy and accessibility of climate information across Africa. This will help African scientists and policymakers improve climate adaptation, mitigation and resilience in sub-Saharan Africa while supporting them in negotiations with other regions in the framework of the Paris Agreement.
