As part of the Strengthening Hydro-Meteorological and Early Warning Services project (itself embedded within the CREWS Initiative), CIMA Research Foundation developed an algorithm for optimal rainfall estimation based on the fusion of information from different data sources (radar, rain gauges and satellites) with the aim of creating the most complete and correct rainfall map possible with spatial resolutions of 500m and 30minute time frames covering nations such as Barbados, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Martinique. In addition, a platform has been developed for visualization, consultation and evaluation of the current situation and possible evolutions.
The project
The project Technical Assistance for the Development of a Multi-sensor Precipitation Grid under Strengthening Hydro-Meteorological and Early Warning Services in the Caribbean Program is part of the Climate Risk and Early Warning Systems (CREWS) Initiative, a partnership carried out by World Meteorological Organization (WMO), World Bank, Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) for the purpose of strengthening climate resilience and warning systems in the most fragile and disaster-vulnerable island states. As part of the initiative, the Strengthening Hydro-Meteorological and Early Warning Services in the Caribbean project was undertaken, a component more specifically dedicated to the Caribbean and developed in close collaboration with regional partners (CDEMA, CMO and CIMH). It is within this project that the CIMA Research Foundation’s intervention, dedicated to the development of a Multi-sensor Precipitation Grid, or Multi-sensor Precipitation Grid, is included.
Results
- Definition of instrumentation in the area and centralization of data at the CIMH headquarters
- Development of the data quality control algorithm
- Definition of the algorithm for fusing precipitation data from the different data sources
- Set up of the MultiSensor Precipitation Grid (MSPG) operational product with 500 m spatial resolution and 30 minute timeframe
- Implementation of the dedicated portal where the situation can be viewed and analyzed in real time
CIMA Research Foundation’s contribution
CIMA Research Foundation was responsible, between September 2021 and December 2022, for the development and design of the data acquisition system, definition of the datafusion algorithm, and h24 operational production of the MSPG product that is disseminated on the developed dedicated portal (and on the Dewetra Caraibi platform). This process allows users to have a real-time estimate of rainfall at a high spatiotemporal resolution (500m, 30′), based on three different data sources: in situ data, radar data and satellite products. The domain is the Caribbean sub-region that includes Barbados, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Martinique. CIMA then defined and agreed on the overall architecture of the service, provided technical assistance for its implementation, supported configuration and development, and provided remote training for users.