Periodic Reporting for period 3 - KADI (Knowledge and climate services from an African observation and Data research Infrastructure)
Période du rapport: 2024-09-01 au 2025-08-31
KADI (Knowledge and Climate Services from an African Observation and Data Research Infrastructure, 2022–2025) aimed to strengthen the basis for a pan African research infrastructure for atmospheric and climate services. Coordinated by ICOS ERIC and building on SEACRIFOG, KADI sought to improve the knowledge base on climate change in Africa and develop tools to address its impacts.
Following the WMO definition, climate services are decision support tools derived from climate information, created through iterative engagement with users and tailored to their needs. Guided by this, KADI conceptualized climate observation within an interdisciplinary African–European collaboration.
A diverse consortium from both regions worked to develop a comprehensive framework for an African research infrastructure, ensuring it can support climate research vital to society. Current Earth System Models and measurement systems rely heavily on extra tropical data, underscoring the need to adapt them to African environments. Key gaps include the carbon cycle in rapidly urbanizing African cities and coastal areas. SEACRIFOG produced concepts and a blueprint for standardized environmental observations across Africa—a crucial step toward meeting development and climate related objectives. Persistent challenges identified by stakeholders include data availability, accessibility, and accuracy. Implementing the blueprint would significantly strengthen environmental monitoring on the continent.
KADI tested its approaches through four pilot activities:
• Earth System Modelling to integrate data and generate knowledge supporting multiple climate services for Africa.
• Coastal biogeochemistry, focusing on under observed regions such as the Southern Ocean, to derive climate services from local to global scales.
• Cities, recognizing their complexity and the need for integrated services on mitigation, adaptation, heat stress, and air quality in Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, and Abidjan, incorporating human experiences in research infrastructures.
• Long term observational collaborations, using partnerships between the Kenyan Meteorological Department and MeteoSwiss as a case study for practices applicable to other African meteorological services.
Following the WMO definition, climate services are decision support tools derived from climate information, created through iterative engagement with users and tailored to their needs. Guided by this, KADI conceptualized climate observation within an interdisciplinary African–European collaboration.
A diverse consortium from both regions worked to develop a comprehensive framework for an African research infrastructure, ensuring it can support climate research vital to society. Current Earth System Models and measurement systems rely heavily on extra tropical data, underscoring the need to adapt them to African environments. Key gaps include the carbon cycle in rapidly urbanizing African cities and coastal areas. SEACRIFOG produced concepts and a blueprint for standardized environmental observations across Africa—a crucial step toward meeting development and climate related objectives. Persistent challenges identified by stakeholders include data availability, accessibility, and accuracy. Implementing the blueprint would significantly strengthen environmental monitoring on the continent.
KADI tested its approaches through four pilot activities:
• Earth System Modelling to integrate data and generate knowledge supporting multiple climate services for Africa.
• Coastal biogeochemistry, focusing on under observed regions such as the Southern Ocean, to derive climate services from local to global scales.
• Cities, recognizing their complexity and the need for integrated services on mitigation, adaptation, heat stress, and air quality in Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, and Abidjan, incorporating human experiences in research infrastructures.
• Long term observational collaborations, using partnerships between the Kenyan Meteorological Department and MeteoSwiss as a case study for practices applicable to other African meteorological services.
The design study on an African Research Infrastructure supporting climate services is the key result of the KADI project. It will have a huge impact on the RI landscape in Africa and in Europe by coordinating the efforts between Europe and Africa and creating a strong cooperation. The initial work during RP1 of the project already created important impact by connecting the right players in Europe and Africa and getting attention from important stakeholders at local, national and international level. This work has been intensified during the second and third periods, also establishing a Communities of Practice that will continue beyond the project’s life cycle.
Integration of CO2, CH4, and CO data from Mount Kenya into the ICOS near-real time data stream. Data are now automatically transferred to the ATC server every night. EMPA can then access the data on the server for data flagging and quality control. This is a first step into a closer integration into ICOS, making the observations and the data chain more robust and sustainable. The project also facilitated the preparation and registering of data from Kenya into the European Fluxes Database which should be visible in the Fluxnet release of December 2025. These initial steps strengthen the integration process, improving the reliability and sustainability of the observational data pipeline.
Integration of CO2, CH4, and CO data from Mount Kenya into the ICOS near-real time data stream. Data are now automatically transferred to the ATC server every night. EMPA can then access the data on the server for data flagging and quality control. This is a first step into a closer integration into ICOS, making the observations and the data chain more robust and sustainable. The project also facilitated the preparation and registering of data from Kenya into the European Fluxes Database which should be visible in the Fluxnet release of December 2025. These initial steps strengthen the integration process, improving the reliability and sustainability of the observational data pipeline.
KADI strengthens scientific excellence in Africa rather than Europe, avoiding brain drain while supporting African-led research. The project pilots generated impact, including advancing the first African Earth System Model, a major step for African climate science. City pilots developed strong approaches for integrated knowledge and geospatial data. The ocean pilot enhanced ocean carbon observation capacity in Africa and Europe and already led to a Horizon Europe proposal. Ocean and knowledge‑exchange pilots also enabled African scientists to join workshops in Morocco and Tanzania.
The lessons‑learned pilot improved collaboration between African and European scientists and delivered a data‑management training in Kenya. As a result, African policymakers will access evidence generated by African researchers in African contexts, increasing trust in climate science and supporting effective climate policy and stronger participation in global negotiations.
KADI re‑established key contacts and engaged stakeholders to co‑design needed services, building on networks from SEACRIFOG. ICOS increased project visibility through workshops, online meetings, focus groups, bilateral exchanges, and participation in major international events such as COP28 and the GEO Global Forum.
At the local level, KADI linked with African GHG and SLCF observational stations and their host institutions, helping map diverse observational and institutional settings relevant for innovative funding in WP5. Examples include Mount Mugogo (Rwanda), Welgegund (South Africa), flux towers in Sunyani (Ghana), and in Kenya the Taita Research Station, Kapiti Research Farm, and the Mount Kenya GAW station.
The lessons‑learned pilot improved collaboration between African and European scientists and delivered a data‑management training in Kenya. As a result, African policymakers will access evidence generated by African researchers in African contexts, increasing trust in climate science and supporting effective climate policy and stronger participation in global negotiations.
KADI re‑established key contacts and engaged stakeholders to co‑design needed services, building on networks from SEACRIFOG. ICOS increased project visibility through workshops, online meetings, focus groups, bilateral exchanges, and participation in major international events such as COP28 and the GEO Global Forum.
At the local level, KADI linked with African GHG and SLCF observational stations and their host institutions, helping map diverse observational and institutional settings relevant for innovative funding in WP5. Examples include Mount Mugogo (Rwanda), Welgegund (South Africa), flux towers in Sunyani (Ghana), and in Kenya the Taita Research Station, Kapiti Research Farm, and the Mount Kenya GAW station.