Jemal Mohammed (jemal_moh@yahoo.com) WMO RA I WORKSHOP ON AUTOMATIC WEATHER STATION (AWS) NETWORKS STRENGTHNING AND MODERNIZING OBSERVING SYSTEMS IN AFRICA, WINDHOEK, NAMIBIA 19 – 21 NOVEMBER 2018 Jemal Mohammed (jemal_moh@yahoo.com) Director for Meteorological Electronic Stations and ICT Directorate, NMA, Ethiopia

The land coverage of Ethiopia is 1. 2 million sq The land coverage of Ethiopia is 1.2 million sq.km where the lowest point is Dallol about 130 m. below sea level and Ras Dashen, the only Ethiopian peak to exceed 4,500 meters in elevation. Weather and climate monitoring is carried through observational stations network. NMA has over 1300 manned conventional surface stations installed all over Ethiopia. Modern electronic meteorological stations, which are ICT based, play a key role in weather and climate monitoring. Automated weather stations (AWS) Automated Weather Observing Systems(AWOS) Digital Wind Systems (DWS) Upper air Stations Satellite Stations Weather Radar Stations Air quality monitoring station Lightening detection station There are about 300 Automated weather stations (AWS) in Ethiopia

Distribution of AWS

Sensors AWS -Sensors onboard: - Rainfall, temperature, wind speed, wind direction, humidity, solar radiation. Some AWS also have soil moisture, leaf wetness. These stations can be extended to 40 parameters

Experiences and lessons learned with automation Factory Level and Onsite Trainings for experts are part of the procurement process Hard and Soft copy manuals are included on every AWS procurement Experts of AWS from abroad are invited to give training on site Lessons learned Easy access of real time data Improvement on data collection, processing, achieving and dissemination of meteorological data Issues, challenges, and needs relevant to automation Lack of skill and knowledge on AWS operation and maintenance Failure of connectivity and coverage of internet access (GPRS network problems) High purchase cost of AWS and spare parts Compatibility issues of different brand of AWS Detailed plan of action is required to implement AWS Expectations from the workshop Plan of action on the development of skill and knowledge to perform maintenance service of AWS How to handle data inhomogenities caused by changes in observing methods (from conventional station to Automated Weather Station)

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