Science for Weather Information and Forecasting Techniques (11/2017 – 03/2022)
Patterns of soil moisture, observed by satellite, are helping us to pinpoint the locations where thunderstorms will form. Testbed 3 is pioneering the use of these land surface observations as part of the process of ‘nowcasting’ for the Sahel zone in Africa. Nowcasting refers to a forecasting process where we provide short-term predictions of severe … Continue Reading
Close analysis of the weather situation among the researchers and forecasters in SWIFT Testbed 3 has been uncovering some of the processes and patterns controlling the development of thunderstorms in West Africa. By looking at the patterns of clouds and storms as they develop during the day, and relating these to patterns of soil moisture … Continue Reading
With the launch of Testbed 3 this week, we have heard some inspiring speeches from our Ghanaian Partners Professor Benjamin Lamptey AG. Director-General of the Ghana Meteorological Agency Professor Leonard K Amekudzi
Testbed 1 was conducted in the first part of 2019, from an operational forecasting office at IMTR Nairobi, at the Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD). The Testbed was designed to support SWIFT’s programme of research capability-building in the science of weather prediction. New forecasting and evaluation products were tested. The outcomes of the Testbed will be … Continue Reading
By Dr Carlo Cafaro for GCRF African SWIFT Most of the rainfall in the tropical Africa region comes from convective systems. Forecasting convection is both challenging and crucial – slight changes in surface temperatures, cloud amounts, or winds aloft can drastically affect the timing, location and intensity of the convection. Thus, convective rainfall forecasts can … Continue Reading