Exploring the Potential of the Cost-Efficient TAHMO Observation Data for Hydro-Meteorological Applications in Sub-Saharan Africa

The Trans-African Hydro-Meteorological Observatory (TAHMO) is a promising initiative aiming to install 20,000 stations in sub-Saharan Africa counteracting the decreasing trend of available measuring stations. To achieve this goal, it particularly important that installed weather are cost-efficient, appropriate for African conditions, and reliably measure most variables hydro-meteorological applications. Since there exist no performance studies TAHMO while operating Africa, necessary investigate their under different climate conditions. This study provides first analysis 10 selected across Burkina Faso (BF). More specifically, consists missing value statistics, plausibility tests temperature (minimum, maximum) precipitation, spatial dependencies (correlograms) by comparison with daily observations from synoptical BF meteorological service as well cross-comparison between Based on results period May 2017 December 2020, concluded potentially offers reliable cost-efficient solution applications hydro-meteorology. usage wind speed measurements cannot be recommended without reservation, at least not bias correcting data. limited measurement still prevents its usability (impact) research. It also stressed replace existing observation networks operated local services, but can complement has great potential detailed analyses. restricted analysis, more evaluation needed considering environmental conditions SSA.