STATUS OF AWS AND CHALLENGES THEY FACE RWANDA

STATUS OF AWS AND CHALLENGES THEY FACE –RWANDA EXPERIANCE By Didace MUSONI Division Manager in charge of Data Observation, Quality Control and Processing 12/3/2020 RA 1 WMO WORKSHOP IN WINDHOEK NAMIBIA 1

OUTLINE • The network of weather monitoring stations in Rwanda • Test for performance of instruments and their calibration • The challenges 12/3/2020 RA 1 WMO WORKSHOP IN WINDHOEK NAMIBIA 2

National climate data- A government Asset • Weather and climate data is a valuable national resource and a strategic asset to the Government of Rwanda. Government data policy emphasizes - climate data as a tool for development. • In order to ensure full advantage, climate information resources, is always managed as an asset. • The minister of youth echoed one time “Easy access to data allows individuals and organizations to develop new insights and innovations that can improve the lives of others and help to improve the flow of information”. 12/3/2020 RA 1 WMO WORKSHOP IN WINDHOEK NAMIBIA 3

RWANDA’S OBSERVATIONS NETWORK Type of station Operational Surface synoptic stations 5 Agro-meteorological stations 9 Climatic stations 75 Rainfall stations 74 Automatic Weather stations 55 Automatic Rain Gauge 100 There are 4 stations equipped with self-recording evaporation pans. Weather Radar 1 Automatic Lightning Detector 1 Total surface stations are 320. 12/3/2020 RA 1 WMO WORKSHOP IN WINDHOEK NAMIBIA 4

A network of stations 12/3/2020 RA 1 WMO WORKSHOP IN WINDHOEK NAMIBIA 5

Historical growth of weather monitoring in Rwanda Manual and Automatic weather stations Growth of weather stations since 1994 genocide 12/3/2020 180 164 156 Sum of AWS 140 Sum of Manual Stns 120 100 112 93 80 60 48 40 20 22 0 4 1 0 1994 2001 13 Years 2007 RA 1 WMO WORKSHOP IN WINDHOEK NAMIBIA 2013 2018 6

Performance of AWS Monitoring software called Sunflower. Automated Weather Station performance over time. Number of installed AWS eff 140 131 120 118 114 100 96 89 82 80 103 97 121 96 60 40 20 Ja n 18 Fe b 18 M ar -1 8 Ap r-1 8 M ay -1 8 -1 7 D ec -1 7 N ov -1 7 O ct 17 Se p- 17 Au g- Ju l -1 7 0 Number of Reported stations 12/3/2020 RA 1 WMO WORKSHOP IN WINDHOEK NAMIBIA 120 Capable of identifying functioning and non -functioning sensors Optimum efficiency of reporting ever reached was 84% otherwise less than 70% most of times. Inspection and maintenance for preventive and corrective actions has been costly 7

DATA QUALITY CONTROL Meteorological data collected from manual and automatic weather stations countrywide are checked and compared for consistence. Comparison of Maximum temperature recorded from Manual and AWS (SHOULD READ THE SAME-WHAT IS THE ACCEPTABLE MAGINE OF ERROR? ) stations Correlation coefficient : R = 0. 866 12/3/2020 Automatic sensor needed adjustment so that it reads the same with a manual station RA 1 WMO WORKSHOP IN WINDHOEK NAMIBIA 8

3. 5 DATA QUALITY CONTROL &PROCESSING Meteorological data collected from manual and automatic weather stations countrywide are checked, managed, processed and archived in a secured DBMS (Climsoft V 4. 1). Temperature sensor was recommended for removal Correlation coefficient : R = 0. 83 generally consistent but not in harmony. 12/3/2020 RA 1 WMO WORKSHOP IN WINDHOEK NAMIBIA 9

DATA QUALITY CONTROL &PROCESSING Meteorological data collected from manual and automatic weather stations countrywide are checked, managed, processed and archived in a secured DBMS (Climsoft V 4). Comparison of rainfall recorded from Manual and AWS Both manual and Automatic were in harmony Considered good and thus maintained Correlation coefficient : R = 0. 99 12/3/2020 RA 1 WMO WORKSHOP IN WINDHOEK NAMIBIA 10

THE Challenges-Excuses are always many These are common issues • The battery runtime through shear neglancy, • data logger running out of memory, • Internet providers cutting services without advance warning; ICT technicians whose actions often times block transmission between AWS, and Servers, • Poor life cycle management –poor replacement plan of old sensors, • Safety of the solar panels- vandalized or stolen • Limited knowledge in hardware and software maintainance • Poor tendering procedures that sometimes do not guarantee administration of warrantee 12/3/2020 RA 1 WMO WORKSHOP IN WINDHOEK NAMIBIA 11

Challenges cont. . , • ICT technicians whose actions often times block transmission between AWS, and Servers, • Poor life cycle management –poor replacement plan of old sensors, • Safety of the solar panels- vandalized or stolen • Limited knowledge in hardware and software maintainance • Poor tendering procedures that sometimes do not guarantee administration of warrantee 12/3/2020 RA 1 WMO WORKSHOP IN WINDHOEK NAMIBIA 12

The end Thank you – Any questions? 12/3/2020 RA 1 WMO WORKSHOP IN WINDHOEK NAMIBIA 13