Available data and products for Agricultural

purpose at the National Meteorological

Agency of Ethiopia

NSF-PIRE KICKOFF CONFERENCE, JULY 11-12

DELANO HOTEL, BAHIR DAR

By Melesse Lemma
National Meteorological Agency of Ethiopia, email:-
mellemma2001@gmail.com, cell phone:- 0921-238812
 Content
• Introduction
– Historical perspectives
• Meteorological data observation systems in
Ethiopia
– Surface Observations, Automatic Observation System,
Upper air Observation System, Air port weather
monitoring systems, Remote sensing and Air pollution
• Data Acquisition system (real and delayed data)
• Data management system
• Method of dissemination
• Challenges
 Historical perspectives
• The first meteorological stations were established in the 19th century by
missionaries and explores

• In 1890 and 1896 weather stations were established at Adamitulu and

Gambella by the Italians.

• During the five years (1936-1941) Italian invasion – 192 stations were
established in Ethiopia

• Since 1951 for the purpose of flight operations 495 aeronautical and
climate stations were established.

• After the establishment of NMSA (1980), the total number of stations have
substantially increased to 1200; but later the number of stations dropped to
548.

• The total number of stations has now rebounded and is more than 1200

• In the world and in our country as well people use different technologies
and instruments to make meteorological observations
 Meteorological data observation in Ethiopia
For the purpose of collecting meteorological data NMA
has deployed surface (manned and automatic), upper air,
satellite, air port (manned and automatic stations)

– Manned Surface Observing Stations

– Synoptic, Indicative, Ordinary and Precipitation station
– Automatic Weather Stations
– Upper Air Stations
• Radio sonde and Pilot Balloon
– Satellite Data Receiving Stations
– Air port stations – mainly for air navigation
• Sadis and AWOS
– Meteorological Radar
– Air pollution station
– Lightning detection network - yet to come
 UOS

Manned stns

AWOS

Satellite

AWS Radar
Air pollution
Manned SOS distribution in Ethiopia – as of 2012

Indicative
Synoptic
Ordinary
Precipitation

Station No.
Type
Synoptic/GTS 18
Indicative 172
Ordinary 546
Precipitation 418
•Manual observation

•Mostly installed in
places accessible at car
• Sparse over low land
and rural areas

•Maintaining them need

high cost
Meteorological elements recorded at manned meteorological stations

No. Meteorological Elements Unit of Time /freq. of Observing

measurements observation (LST) station
1 Rainfall millimeters 09 All
2 Maximum Temperature oC 18 Except pre.
3 Minimum Temperature oC 09 Except pre.
4 Dry Bulb Temperature oC 5 observation (06, Syn. and Ind.
5 Wet bulb Temperature oC 09,12,15,18) Syn. and Ind.
per day at
6 Relative Humidity % indicative station Syn. and Ind.
7 Sun shine duration Hours and some Syn. and Ind.
8 Wind run at 2 meters M/s or knots synoptic stations Syn. and Ind.
8 observation
9 Wind spd and Dir. at 10 meters M/s and degree (00,03,06,09,12,1 Syn. and Ind.
10 Cloud Amount Oktas 5,18,21) Syn. and Ind.
oC
at some synoptic
11 Soil temp. at 10, 20, 30, 50 and Syn. and Ind.
stations
100 centimeters depth
12 Pan Evaporation millimeters Syn. and Ind.
13 Pitche Evaporation millimeters Syn. and Ind.
 Meteorological elements …
No. Meteorological Elements Unit of Time/freq. of Observing
measureme observation (LST) station
nts
14 Grass minimum temperature oC 5 observation (06, Synoptic
09,12,15,18)
15 Station level pressure mb (hPa) Synoptic
per day at and
16 QNH (Sea level pressure) mb(hPa) some synoptic Synoptic
17 Weather ( Present weather, Past In symb ols stations 8 Synoptic
weather) observation
(00,03,06,09,12,1
18 Cloud (Low cloud amount, Type of Oktas, type Synoptic
5,18,21)
low cloud, Type of medium cloud,
at some synoptic
Type of high cloud)
stations
19 Height of low cloud Kmts Synoptic
20 Horizontal visibility Kmts Synoptic
AWS distribution in Ethiopia

Station Type
We have two types of AWS

Stations that measure only 6

parameter – about 100 in
number

Stations that measure more

than 6 parameters about 47

Automatic observation
Started in 2009 with the help
of WFP

Maintaining them incurs high

cost
 Data Flow
Data Collection Transfer Entry/Analysis/Storage/Exc Storage/Analysis/
Transfer Usage
hange/Usage Exchange/Usage

Synoptic stn Users

Branch Office
Principal Stn MDCD Users

Branch Office Headquarters Partner

Ordinary Stns
CLIDATA Partner
Branch Office Nairobi
Precipitation Hard copy
stations
Users
AWS, UOS

• Branch offices manage stations which come directly under their area of responsibility
• The NMA head quarter gets hard copy data by post and softcopy data from MBD through
emails, CD’s or flash disks.

• Data delivery handled both at the NMA HQ and at the branch level. They use the data for
operational activities. They manage, store and archive data.
• The NMA HQ is responsible for managing all Ethiopia meteorological data.
The NMA Data Management system

Data visualization
software - adVantage
pro of the ADCON
web based system .
Graphical view
 Processed data and products

• Raw data
– Daily, hourly, 1 minutes data
• Processed data
– Pentad, dekadal, monthly, annual, seasonal and long
term means
– Merged data
• Bulletins
– Forecast (daily, three daily, ten daily, monthly, seasonal)
and climate projections
– Agromet advisories (ten daily, monthly, seasonal) –
impact assessment, WRSI, moisture index, weather and
livestoke insurance
– Hydrometeorology
• Monthly, seasonal and annual
– Climate (monthly, seasonal and annual)
– Health – monthly malaria suitability analysis
 Satellite and raingauge merging
• The problem
– Both satellite and rain gauge
measurements carry
information about rainfall
– How do you combine them to
give the best possible
Station Satellite estimate?
measurements Estimate
Rmerge  wg Rg  ws Rs

Combined
product
Web access
Visual presentation of the merged products can be
accesses on NMA website (www.ethiomet.gov.et). The
map room part of the website contains mean maps,
dekadal climate monitoring and historical analysis of ENSO
years.

• The map room has

– Climate analysis
– Climate monitoring
– Climate forecast 14
Map room- The climate and society map room is
a collection of maps and other figures that
monitor climate and societal conditions at
present and in the recent past. The maps and
figures can be manipulated and are linked to the
original data. Even if you are primarily interested
in data rather than figures, this is a good place to
see which datasets are particularly useful for
monitoring current conditions.
 Method of dissemination
– Via website, radio, television, newspapers, by fax and post
to registered users like ministerial offices and organizations

– In some projects like (PAA, IRISH) sending data and

forecast to local DA’s and project coordinators.

– Farmers need area specific short range forecast, medium

and long range climate outlooks for agricultural and
climate adaptation and mitigation purpose – NMA can do
but it needs lot’s of stations data, further researches and
expertise in the area. It needs developing area specific
models which takes into account the special features and
climate controls of the area.
 Challenges
• All who participate in data acquisition, transmission, station establishment &
inspection, play a role in the process of getting quality assured data. There are
stations which are not maintained. Malfunctioning instruments are not replaced
on time. Data quality is a big issue.
• All stations which are supposed to send real time data via radio and telephone do
not send data at all or regularly
• All meteorological information are not well organized in the NMA Archive
• All the historical data are not computerized. We are looking for upcoming projects.
• Failure of Data Base Systems at times
• All the charts are not processed for them to be ready for provision processing is a
necessity.
• Lack of trained manpower and fast advancement of technology
• Network lines between head and branch offices are not functioning properly
• No well organized and documented metadata of stations and instruments
• Data Gaps and length
– Most of the stations started recording in the 1970’s
– Data gaps created due to many reasons
• War outbreak, absence of observers and leaving the organization with our prior notice,
instruments breakdown and slow maintenance services
– Acquiring modern instruments needs high budget and using them requires
trained manpower.
– Data demand and supply do not agree
 Challenges …
• Our satellite section does not have its own RFE, NDVI, FIRE
detection and the like but depends on other products
• Lack of clarity in the Agency’s data policy. Above all, it is very old.
Some data and products do not have price. This time the Agency is
trying to address this problem. It has formed a committee which
takes the responsibility of developing a new data policy. But it takes
longer than expected.
• E-mail data services takes long time due to slow money transfer
through banks. As per our thoughts the problem could be solved if
NMA can receive money send from abroad via western union
money transfer.
• Absence of cashiers sometimes due to some reasons
• Malfunctioning office materials and equipments do not get fixed on
time.
• Lack of long term, short term training and refreshing courses for the
employees. New systems come, softwares arise every time but
getting appropriate training is not that easy.
• Incentives are the driving force to get the best out of the workforce.
There is no well established incentive system.