NiMet’s evaluates weather observation stations
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has embarked on an extensive exercise to evaluate its weather observation stations, emphasizing the importance of accurate metadata. This initiative assesses equipment conditions, personnel availability, infrastructure maintenance, and data quality across various locations.
NiMet, which had previously struggled with unreliable metadata, aims to collate accurate metadata for all surface-based observation stations and platforms, including AWOS, under the WMO Integrated Global Observing System (WIGOS). Observational metadata is crucial for national, regional, and global purposes, ensuring data quality and validity.
Metadata, which describes other data, is essential for organizing and integrating both structured and unstructured data. Accurate metadata helps improve product generation, upgrade processes, and align grid coordinates.
Prof. Charles Anosike, Director General and CEO of NiMet, highlighted the importance of this exercise, noting that on his assumption of office in December 2023, he discovered inaccuracies in NiMet’s metadata. Previous efforts to gather exact raw metadata from various locations had been unsuccessful. Some stations lacked WMO IDs, ICAO IDs, latitude, longitude, elevation, etc., and some plotted locations fell outside Nigeria’s geographical boundaries, underscoring the need for an accurate update.
Anosike emphasized that accurate metadata is vital for better data organization, improved interoperability, and integration. It also aids in gathering insights for process improvements and storing unstructured data like images and videos.
The metadata exercise was a success, with all stations in Nigeria updated. The process of uploading this data to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Oscar platform is currently ongoing.
NiMet’s comprehensive metadata evaluation ensures that Nigeria’s weather observation stations operate efficiently, providing reliable data essential for accurate weather forecasting and climate analysis. This initiative not only strengthens NiMet’s capabilities but also aligns with global standards, enhancing Nigeria’s contributions to the international meteorological community.
By prioritizing accurate metadata, NiMet ensures that it can continue to provide essential services to various sectors, including agriculture, aviation, and disaster management, thereby supporting national development and safeguarding lives and property.
