Non-Traditional Approaches to Weather Observations in Developing Countries

In many developing countries, given their poor economic circumstances, weather observing networks are usually installed using funds from international development and aid agencies to enhance the capability of local national hydro-meteorological ser...

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Main Author:	Snow, John T.
Format:	Working Paper
Language:	English en_US
Published:	International Finance Corporation, Washington, DC 2017
Subjects:	weather cellular network meteorology smart phones weather observation measurement information technology ICT
Online Access:	http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/674601487155273152/Non-traditional-approaches-to-weather-observations-in-developing-countries http://hdl.handle.net/10986/26122

id	okr-10986-26122
recordtype	oai_dc
spelling	okr-10986-261222021-04-23T14:04:33Z Non-Traditional Approaches to Weather Observations in Developing Countries Snow, John T. weather cellular network meteorology smart phones weather observation measurement information technology ICT In many developing countries, given their poor economic circumstances, weather observing networks are usually installed using funds from international development and aid agencies to enhance the capability of local national hydro-meteorological services (NHMS) and to accomplish humanitarian objectives. This paper discusses non-traditional approaches for establishing sustainable weather observing networks in developing countries, beginning with a brief overview of the importance of data from such networks to a NHMS. Some of the challenges inherent in establishing and maintaining weather and climate observing networks in developing countries are described. This is followed by a discussion of how these challenges may be addressed through the development of weather observing networks based on facilities and capabilities of the local cellular telephone network, such as the open lattice tower pictured in the background of the cover photograph. The paper reviews and summarizes currently available scientific, technical, and commercial literature regarding use of cell phone towers as observing sites. It provides a few illustrative examples of non-traditional technologies well-suited to making cell-tower based observations. The paper concludes with recommendations concerning how one may work with NHMSs in developing countries to improve the sustainability of their observing networks. These recommendations are focused on partnerships, in the sense of true business relationships, involving the NHMSs with, for example, local telephone companies, other in-country utilities, and commercial and private sector instrument manufacturers and data services. For more publications on IFC Sustainability please visit www.ifc.org/sustainabilitypublications. 2017-02-22T17:23:37Z 2017-02-22T17:23:37Z 2013 Working Paper http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/674601487155273152/Non-traditional-approaches-to-weather-observations-in-developing-countries http://hdl.handle.net/10986/26122 English en_US CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 IGO http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/igo International Finance Corporation International Finance Corporation, Washington, DC Publications & Research Publications & Research :: Working Paper
repository_type	Digital Repository
institution_category	Foreign Institution
institution	Digital Repositories
building	World Bank Open Knowledge Repository
collection	World Bank
language	English en_US
topic	weather cellular network meteorology smart phones weather observation measurement information technology ICT
spellingShingle	weather cellular network meteorology smart phones weather observation measurement information technology ICT Snow, John T. Non-Traditional Approaches to Weather Observations in Developing Countries
description	In many developing countries, given their poor economic circumstances, weather observing networks are usually installed using funds from international development and aid agencies to enhance the capability of local national hydro-meteorological services (NHMS) and to accomplish humanitarian objectives. This paper discusses non-traditional approaches for establishing sustainable weather observing networks in developing countries, beginning with a brief overview of the importance of data from such networks to a NHMS. Some of the challenges inherent in establishing and maintaining weather and climate observing networks in developing countries are described. This is followed by a discussion of how these challenges may be addressed through the development of weather observing networks based on facilities and capabilities of the local cellular telephone network, such as the open lattice tower pictured in the background of the cover photograph. The paper reviews and summarizes currently available scientific, technical, and commercial literature regarding use of cell phone towers as observing sites. It provides a few illustrative examples of non-traditional technologies well-suited to making cell-tower based observations. The paper concludes with recommendations concerning how one may work with NHMSs in developing countries to improve the sustainability of their observing networks. These recommendations are focused on partnerships, in the sense of true business relationships, involving the NHMSs with, for example, local telephone companies, other in-country utilities, and commercial and private sector instrument manufacturers and data services. For more publications on IFC Sustainability please visit www.ifc.org/sustainabilitypublications.
format	Working Paper
author	Snow, John T.
author_facet	Snow, John T.
author_sort	Snow, John T.
title	Non-Traditional Approaches to Weather Observations in Developing Countries
title_short	Non-Traditional Approaches to Weather Observations in Developing Countries
title_full	Non-Traditional Approaches to Weather Observations in Developing Countries
title_fullStr	Non-Traditional Approaches to Weather Observations in Developing Countries
title_full_unstemmed	Non-Traditional Approaches to Weather Observations in Developing Countries
title_sort	non-traditional approaches to weather observations in developing countries
publisher	International Finance Corporation, Washington, DC
publishDate	2017
url	http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/674601487155273152/Non-traditional-approaches-to-weather-observations-in-developing-countries http://hdl.handle.net/10986/26122
_version_	1764461005408043008

Non-Traditional Approaches to Weather Observations in Developing Countries

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