Bridging Relative Humidity Data Gaps for Ethiopia
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Overview
For decades, Ethiopia's meteorologists have battled a fundamental problem: sparse and unreliable relative humidity data across the Awash River Basin, one of the country's most agriculturally vital areas. Without accurate ground-level measurements, early drought detection has remained imprecise, leaving farmers and pastoralists exposed to heat stress events that devastate crops and livestock with little warning.
This project addresses that gap by merging satellite and reanalysis data with quality-controlled in-situ records to produce accurate, high-resolution humidity datasets for the basin. The approach combines the breadth of remote sensing with the precision of ground observations, creating tools that local climate agencies can actually use and trust. Open data practices ensure transparency and scientific accountability, while deep collaboration with Ethiopian experts guarantees the outputs remain relevant to national needs.
The results are already reshaping how Ethiopia manages climate risk. Local agencies now have reliable tools for monitoring heat stress on both human populations and livestock, and the improved datasets are increasing the precision of global climate models for the region. Beyond the science, the project is advancing gender equity by training female graduate students in climate data methods building the next generation of Ethiopian climate expertise from within.