Combining Climate Observation with Climate Education
AquaLinks is representing the Trans-African HydroMeteorological Observatory in South Africa (www.tahmo.org).
The proof of concept for South Africa is done in Johannesburg. Operational TAHMO automatic weather stations are in Braamfontein Juta Street (Maths Centre), Hunters Hill fire station (close to North Gate), Midrand fire station, Park on London Road in Alexandra, Jabulani fire station in Soweto, Kibler Park fire station, Rietfontein EMS school south of Soweto, Floridapark fire station, Orange Farm fire station.
The Johannesburg Emergency Management Services already have automatic access every hour to the five minute data of the past hour.
The TAHMO stations:
- can show the added value of extra weather stations for better operational water management in cities (water demand management and flashflood forecasting), as well as better stormwater designs;
- can have applications for other city aspects that need weather data (traffic management, air pollution forecasts, solar and wind power generation design, green architecture);
- can be used for internet-of-things applications that save energy and water (automatic sprinklers that switch off..);
- are used to improve incoroporation at the secondary schools where they are being installed to use in education on science, technology, geography;
- are showcases for possible sponsors of additional automatic weather stations.
All TAHMO installed stations will every hour deliver five minute data to the sponsor of the station and to the South African Weather Service. The data will be made freely available for research and for other good causes. For commercial purposes, an API connection can be provided and a reasonable fee will be asked.
The stations are World Meteorological Organisation compliant but far less expensive than similar equipment.
Please contact AquaLinks (Marieke de Groen) if you are interested!
See below the pdf of the presentation given at the Afri-Alliance, Local Climate Solutions for Africa conference, March 2017 in Ekurhuni, South Africa.
170322 Tahmo Aqualinks Presentation_Locs4Africa
And this is the link to the article in ClimateChangePost.
