About Us
The Trans-African Hydro-Meteorological Observatory (TAHMO) aims to develop a vast network of weather stations across Africa. Current and historic weather data is important for agricultural, climate monitoring, and many hydro-meteorological applications.
TAHMO's Weather Stations Today
About TAHMO
The Trans-African Hydro-Meteorological Observatory (TAHMO) is a not-for-profit organisation that provides institutional weather and climate data across SubSaharan Africa. TAHMO operates a network of more than 600 hydro-meteorological stations in 23 African countries. It provides an innovative rainfall product that combines ground data, commercial microwave links and satellite data for accurate and timely information that forms the basis for flood early warning systems (EWS).
The TAHMO initiative is committed to serving the public by advancing the free and open exchange of hydro-meteorological data collected with its monitoring stations. By allowing the free download of all raw TAHMO data for scientific research and governmental applications, TAHMO supports World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Resolution 40 and Resolution 25. Commercial applications of TAHMO data are considered on a case-by-case basis.
The TAHMO Invitiative
Monitoring Africa’s environment is an important challenge if the continent’s resources are to be used in an optimal and sustainable manner.
The TAHMO initiative is committed to serving the public by advancing the free and open exchange of hydro-meteorological data collected with its monitoring stations. By allowing the free download of all raw TAHMO data for scientific research and governmental applications, TAHMO supports World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Resolution 40 and Resolution 25. Commercial applications of TAHMO data are considered on a case-by-case basis.
WMO Resolution 40 on the facilitation and cooperation of observing networks and the exchange of meteorological information is of interest to the international community, governments, and researchers alike. It states, “As a fundamental principle of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), and in consonance with the expanding requirements for its scientific and technical expertise, WMO commits itself to broadening and enhancing the free and unrestricted international exchange of meteorological and related data and products.”
Similarly, the TAHMO initiative supports
WMO Resolution 25, which “adopts a stand of committing to broadening and enhancing, whenever possible, the free and unrestricted international exchange of hydrological data and products, in consonance with the requirements for WMO’s scientific and technical programs.” Allowing for free access to TAHMO monitoring data serves the public by beginning to close the existing hydro-meteorological data gaps in Africa and increasing the communication and application of this important information.
Monitoring Africa’s environment is an important challenge if the continent’s resources are to be used in an optimal and sustainable manner. Food production and harvest predictions profit from an improved understanding of water availability over space and time. Presently, African observation networks are very limited, and national governments and regional planners do not have the data to make proper decisions regarding investments in water resources infrastructure.
The ability to access historical climate data is critical in order to efficiently manage water resources. The limited number of weather stations in Africa is spread out over enormous distances; most are found in northern and southern Africa, leaving huge data gaps in the central part of the continent. Additionally, the African climate data which are currently available are not arranged in a convenient way for users to access; data sets are often incomplete and restricted to the public. There is often a lack of communication within countries and regions, creating data gaps at multiple levels. Another key challenge for climate monitoring in Africa is the availability of historical data; most collected data have been recorded on paper, and not cataloged electronically. With these data literally sitting forgotten on shelves in offices around the continent, they are at great risk of being lost forever. Accurate climate data are essential for agriculture, weather prediction, and climate modeling. With an increase in the quantity and quality of climate stations, along with the incorporation of historical data, we can move forward toward the goal of obtaining accurate climate data.
