Earlier I wrote about seven student science projects that are started this year as a pilot. This post introduces my colleague Israel Gebresilasie, who works on one of those projects.
Personal information
My name is Israel Gebresilasie Kimo (ORCID profile). I have a BSc in Meteorology and Hydrology and an MSc in Climate Change and Development. I am currently working as a lecturer and researcher at the Faculty of Meteorology and Hydrology, Water Technology Institute, Arba Minch University, Ethiopia. I am interested in conducting research in air quality, low-cost meteorological sensors, meteorology, and climate change.
I am conducting research as a principal investigator on validating the performance of low-cost meteorological sensors. I am working on this project alongside my colleagues Mr. Yared Gudine, Mr. Awel Haji, Dr. Abebe, Mr. Jan Dirk, and our students. We integrate the courses Meteorological Observation, Atmospheric Chemistry and Air Quality, and Data Analysis in Meteorology and Hydrology for second- and third-year students with project activities.
Project information
The quality and quantity of data are essential for any research in meteorology. This data significantly influences research outcomes as well as the accuracy of model outputs. The better the observational data we have, the better the weather predictions produced by numerical models, and vice versa.
In addition to this the density of this data also plays a significant role. However, meteorological stations in most African countries has large distance between them, and increasing their density requires high costs. Ethiopia is one country experiencing this situation. The development of low-cost meteorological sensors has provided a potential solution. As these sensors are affordable, they allow for the collection of denser data on a limited budget. However, while we are addressing the quantity issue it is important to focus on data quality.
This research has two main objectives. The first is to address the quality issue by validating the performance of the low-cost sensor BME280 for three meteorological variables: temperature, relative humidity, and particulate matter (PM2.5). We will perform validation using conventional meteorological instruments, such as a thermohygrograph(placed in Stevenson screen as recommended by worled meteorological organization ) for temperature and relative humidity, and filter-based gravimetry methods for particulate matter.
The second objective is to engage students in practical learning by having them help in collecting meteorological using data both the low cost sensor and conventional instruments, analyzing the data using Python, and plotting and interpreting the results to draw meaningful conclusions. This approach not only contributes to scientific research but also improves the practical skills of our students.