3D-PAWS & FEWS NET
Declining weather observation sites combined with an increasing number of extreme weather events have exacerbated the challenges of monitoring and predicting weather-related food security risks across the African continent.
To address this issue, COMET and the Climate Hazards Center (CHC) at the University of California Santa Barbara have partnered with African meteorological agencies to form the Enhancing Meteorological Networks Partnership (EMNP), funded by the Famine Early Warning System Network (FEWS NET).
The EMNP leverages the 3D-Printed Automatic Weather Station (3D-PAWS) as a cost effective and sustainable means for national meteorological and hydrological services (NMHSs) to install, maintain, and expand their weather station observation networks.
COMET has deployed 3D-PAWS stations across Kenya and Zimbabwe with plans to expand to 10 African countries over five years.