Abstract 101

Abstract ID: 101

The Need for sustained provision S2S forecast products: African Perspective.

Lead Author: Victor Indasi
ACMAD, Niger

Keywords: S2S forecast data, Co-production, Operational forecasting testbed, User-driven climate services

Abstract: Climate affects all sectors of the economy across the world, with varying degrees of vulnerability and impacts, yet our understanding of the climate systems is often hindered by availability of high quality data. Forecasts on sub-seasonal to seasonal (S2S) timescales have huge potential to aid preparedness and disaster risk reduction planning decisions in a variety of sectors. This paper provides an Africa perspective on major challenges and opportunities that arise in the utilisation of S2S forecast products. This perspective emerged from the discussions during a two year African SWIFT (Science for Weather Information and Forecasting Techniques) forecasting testbed which brought together researchers, forecast producers and users covering four countries (Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria and Senegal) and two Regional Climate Centres (RCCs) in Africa. In this paper we discuss two possible ways forward: a stronger interaction between producers and users of climate and weather services; and collaborative modelling approach between the more advanced global north institutions and African institutions. This paper also demonstrates the importance of continued provision of S2S forecast products in addressing the long-standing data challenges in Africa.

Co-authors:
Linda Hirons (National Centre of Atmospheric Science (NCAS), University of Reading)
Elisabeth Thompson (National Centre of Atmospheric Science (NCAS), University of Reading)
Cheikh Dione (African Centre of Meteorological Applications for Development (ACMAD))
Elias Nkiaka (University of Leeds)
Joshua Talib (UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (UKCEH))
Emma Visman (UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (UKCEH))
Jesse Ashong (Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet))
Jasper Batureine Mwesigwa (IGAD Climate Prediction & Applications Centre (ICPAC))
Victoria L Boult (National Centre of Atmospheric Science (NCAS), University of Reading)
Tidiane Diédhiou (National Agency of Civil Aviation and Meteorology (ANACIM))
Oumar Konte (National Agency of Civil Aviation and Meteorology (ANACIM))
Masilin Gudoshava (IGAD Climate Prediction & Applications Centre (ICPAC))
Chris Kiptum (Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD))
Richmond Konadu Amoah (Ghana Ministry of Food and Agriculture)
Benjamin Lamptey (Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet))
Kamoru Abiodun Lawal (Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet))
Richard Nzekwu (FGN-IFAD CASP), Nigeria)
Patricia Nying’uro (Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD))
Willis Ochieng (Kenya Electricity Generating Company PLC (KenGen))
Eniola Olaniyan (Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet))
Nana Kofi Opoku (Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet))
Hussen Seid Endris (IGAD Climate Prediction & Applications Centre (ICPAC))
Zewdu Segele (IGAD Climate Prediction & Applications Centre (ICPAC))
Pascal Moudi Igri (Centre d’Application et de Prévision Climatologique de l’Afrique Centrale (CAPC-AC))
Emmah Mwangi (Kenya Red Cross Society)
Steve Woolnough (National Centre of Atmospheric Science (NCAS), University of Reading)