From 10–12 November 2025, RAMP Lab hosted a three-day technical training at the University of Botswana for meteorologists from the Botswana Department of Meteorological Services (BDMS).

The training introduced participants to the theory and practice of merging CHIRPS (Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation with Stations) satellite-derived rainfall estimates with surface station observations. This blending approach combines the spatial coverage of satellite products with the accuracy of in-situ measurements, producing gridded rainfall datasets better suited to Botswana’s climate and station network than either source alone.

Practical sessions covered data acquisition and preprocessing, interpolation methods, bias correction, and quality assessment of blended products. Participants worked through case studies drawn from Botswana’s recent rainfall seasons, applying methods that can be adopted into BDMS operational workflows.

The training builds on an ongoing research partnership between RAMP Lab and BDMS focused on improving the quality of gridded climate data for Botswana and supporting the country’s operational climate services.