Climate forecasting and early warning
Locusts and grasshoppers are migratory insects that cause significant agricultural damage and food insecurity in many parts of the world. Rainfall can create favorable conditions for their breeding and migration. Therefore, climate forecasting models can play a crucial role in predicting and mitigating the impacts of locust outbreaks by providing early warnings to affected regions. However, accurate and reliable forecasting requires a comprehensive understanding of the complex ecological and environmental factors that influence locust behavior and population dynamics. Below are some of the organizations and projects involved in climate forecasting and early warning that may be helpful for those interested in locust and grasshopper outbreaks.
Forecasting and early warning resources
| English short title | Resource link | Descriptive keyword | Language | Species purview | Geographic purview | Resource description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Climate Forecasting Climate Services for Eastern Africa | View URL | Early warning, Forecasting, Meteorology | English | Eastern Africa | Resources for climate monitoring, prediction, early warning, and application of climate information services in the greater Horn of Africa region. | |
| COLA Weather Forecast Maps | View URL | Forecasting, Meteorology, Rainfall, Weather | English | Provides graphical weather forecasts for various regions around the world, including temperature, wind, precipitation, and atmospheric pressure. | ||
| Google Earth Engine | View URL | Forecasting, Meteorology | English | Desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria) | Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, Oceania | A cloud-based platform developed by Google that provides access to an extensive collection of geospatial data and powerful computational capabilities. It combines satellite imagery, aerial photography, and other Earth observation data with advanced algorithms to enable analysis, visualization, and interpretation of geospatial information at a global scale.
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| High tech early warning system could curb next South African locust swarms | View URL | Media article, Locust outbreaks, Locusts, Outbreaks, Infestations, Early warning, Forecasting, Monitoring, Chemical control, Biopesticide, Pesticide management, Pesticides, Technology, Spraying, Agriculture, Crop health, Migration, Earth observation, Rainfall, Weather, Meteorology, Public health
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English | Brown locust (Locustana pardalina) | South Africa | |
| International Research Institute for Climate and Society (IRI) | View URL | Forecasting, Meteorology | English | Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, Oceania | Video tutorial on how to use the map | |
| Maroc Meteo | View URL | Meteorology, Forecasting, Weather | French | Desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria) | Morocco | MarocMétéo provides weather information, forecasts, and climate-related data for various regions of Morocco. |
| MétéoAlgérie | View URL | Meteorology, Forecasting, Weather | French | Desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria) | Algeria | National meteorological and climatological service of Algeria. |
| NASA WorldWind | View URL | Meteorology, Forecasting, Weather | English | Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, Oceania | WorldWind is an open source virtual globe API. WorldWind allows developers to quickly and easily create interactive visualizations of 3D globe, map and geographical information. Organizations around the world use WorldWind to monitor weather patterns, visualize cities and terrain, track vehicle movement, analyze geospatial data and educate humanity about the Earth.
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| Naval Research Lab | View URL | Forecasting, Meteorology, Rainfall, Weather | English | The website is maintained by the United States Navy and focuses on providing satellite-based meteorological and oceanographic data. | ||
| NOAA Climate Prediction Center | View URL | Meteorology, Forecasting, Weather | English | Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, Oceania | Provides climate outlooks, forecasts, and assessments to help decision-makers and the public better understand and anticipate climate variability and change. | |
| Report of Monitoring and Assessment of Desert Locust in Africa and Asia 2020 | View URL | Report, Locust outbreaks, Locusts, Outbreaks, Infestations, Monitoring, Migration, Agriculture, Crop health, Economics, Earth observation, Meteorology, Remote sensing | English | Desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria) | Africa, Asia | Reports on the desert locust outbreak from February 2020- August 2020 using meteorological data, field data, and remote sensing data from satellites such as GF series in China, MODIS and Landsat series in the US, and Sentinel series in the EU.
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| Southern Africa locust outbreak September 2020 | View URL | Summary, Locust outbreaks, Locusts, Outbreaks, Agriculture, Food security, Management, Integrated pest management, Pesticide management, Economics, Environmental assessment, Emergency response, Pesticides, Chemical control, Forecasting, Monitoring, Rainfall, Weather, Meteorology
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English | Migratory locust (Locusta migratoria) | ||
| To Track Massive Locust Swarms, Officials Use Tool that Forecasts Smoke Plumes | View URL | Media article, Locust outbreaks, Locusts, Outbreaks, Infestations, Management, Rainfall, Weather, Climate change, Food security, Livelihoods, Migration, Agriculture, Crop health, Monitoring, Spraying, Pesticide management, Pesticides, Chemical control, Meteorology, Modeling, Behavior, Technology, Early warning, Forecasting
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English | Desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria) | The pests that have been laying waste to crops across Africa follow the winds, just like smoke | |
| Tunisia National Institute of Meteorology | View URL | Meteorology, Forecasting, Weather | English, French, Arabic | Desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria) | Tunisia | Meteo Tunisia is the official meteorological service of Tunisia, providing weather forecasts and meteorological information for various regions in Tunisia. |
| USAID NASA SERVIR | View URL | Forecasting, Meteorology | English | Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, Oceania | SERVIR is helping people in more than 45 countries access and use satellite imagery and climate and weather information to make decisions about development. | |
| USGS FEWS NET Data Portal | View URL | Forecasting, Meteorology | English | Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, Oceania | Provides access to geo-spatial data, satellite image products, and derived data products in support of FEWS NET drought monitoring efforts throughout the world. | |
| Weather Underground | View URL | Forecasting, Meteorology, Rainfall, Weather | English | Weather Underground provides weather forecasts, current conditions, radar and satellite imagery, as well as other weather-related information for locations around the world. | ||
| Wind Finder | View URL | Forecasting, Meteorology, Rainfall, Weather | English | Windfinder is an online platform that focuses on providing wind, weather, and wave forecasts for various locations worldwide. | ||
| Windy.com | View URL | Forecasting, Meteorology, Rainfall, Weather | English | An online platform that provides interactive weather forecasting and visualization tools. It offers a wide range of weather-related information, including wind patterns, temperature, precipitation, pressure, and other meteorological data.
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Early warning
Early warning systems play a crucial role in effective locust management. These systems aim to detect and monitor locust populations, enabling timely interventions to prevent or mitigate potential outbreaks. By using various technologies, such as satellite imagery, weather data, and ground surveillance, early warning systems can identify areas prone to locust infestations and forecast the likelihood of outbreaks. This information allows authorities to mobilize resources, implement control measures, and coordinate efforts with affected communities. Early warning systems provide valuable time for preparedness and response, enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of locust management strategies, ultimately minimizing the economic and ecological impact of locust outbreaks. However, existing systems still need improvement, especially disseminating information in time, and paring warnings with specific information for stakeholders to take action. This page provides a comprehensive list of projects, organizations, and resources related to early warning efforts.
Projects
| Name | Acronym | Project start year | Related organization | Country purview | Descriptive keywords | Species purview | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Africa InterTropical Front | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | Forecasting, Meteorology, Rainfall, Weather | Active | ||||
| CABI BioSpace project | 2020 | Crop health, Invasive species, Forecasting, Meteorology, Remote sensing, Early warning | Migratory locust (Locusta migratoria), Yellow-spined bamboo locust (Ceracris kiangsu) | Active | |||
| Project Locust | Tomorrownow.io | Meteorology, Forecasting, Technology, Early warning | Desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria) | Active |
Information Hubs
| English short title | Year published | Category | Author | Species purview | Geographic purview | Language | Descriptive keyword |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Climate Forecasting Climate Services for Eastern Africa | Information hub | IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre | Eastern Africa | English | Early warning, Forecasting, Meteorology | ||
| FAO open DropBox resources for innovation | 2021 | Information hub | FAO Desert Locust Information Service, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations | Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, Oceania | English | Forecasting, Survey, Early warning, Robotics, Drones, Technology | |
| FAO: Tracking Locust with Tech | Information hub | Vulcan | Desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria) | Africa | English | Early warning, Forecasting | |
| USAID Famine Early Warning Systems Network | Information hub | United States Agency for International Development | Desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria) | Africa, Asia, Americas | English | Early warning |
Organizations
| Organization | Acronym | Website | Type | Focus | Focus keywords | Geographic purview |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DLIS | View URL | Intergovernmental Organization | Development, Management, Education, Governance, Information Hub, Funding | Agricultural development, Community development, Control, Coordination, Emergency assistance, Forecasting, International development, Media, Monitoring, Policy, Regional cooperation, Sustainable development, Technology, Training, Early warning, Natural sciences
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| GIEWS | View URL | Intergovernmental Organization | Early warning | |||
| ICPAC | View URL | Intergovernmental Organization | Development, Management, Research | Forecasting, Agricultural development, International development, Early warning, Natural sciences | ||
| View URL | Intergovernmental Organization | Information Hub | Early warning, Monitoring | |||
| PAAT | View URL | Government | Research | Agriculture, Agroecology, Artificial intelligence, Climate change, Early warning, Ecology, Forecasting, Geographic Information System (GIS), Invasive species, Landscape ecology, Modeling, Monitoring, Rangeland management, Remote sensing
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United States of America | |
| SUDA | View URL | Government | Agriculture, Behavioral neuroscience, Biological control, Climate change, Collective movement, Early warning, Education, Environmental science, Geographic Information System (GIS), Integrated pest management, Management, Modeling, Remote sensing
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India | ||
| View URL | Private Sector | Other | Meteorology, Forecasting, Technology, Early warning | |||
| UNSW | View URL | University | Research | Early warning, Ecology, Insect behavior, Migration, Population dynamics, Remote sensing, Radar | Australia | |
| View URL | Private Sector | Information Hub | Agriculture, Climate change, Coordination, Digital tool, Early warning, Emergency alerts, Food security, Geographic Information System (GIS), Forecasting, Monitoring, Modeling, Remote sensing, Research, Information hub
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Guides and education
Climate forecasting
Climate forecasting plays a significant role in predicting and understanding locust outbreaks. Locusts are highly influenced by weather and climatic conditions, particularly temperature, rainfall, and vegetation growth. Climate forecasting models and data analysis help identify favorable conditions for locust breeding, migration, and population growth. By monitoring and analyzing climate patterns, scientists and experts can anticipate periods of increased locust activity and identify regions at risk of infestation. This information is crucial for early warning systems and enables authorities to allocate resources, implement preventive measures, and plan targeted interventions to control locust populations. Climate forecasting provides valuable insights into the dynamics of locust outbreaks and assists in developing effective strategies for locust management and mitigation.
| English short title | Year published | Category | Author | Species purview | Geographic purview | Language | Descriptive keyword |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drought puts Alberta farmers at risk of another scourge of grasshoppers | 2024 | Media | Two-striped grasshopper (Melanoplus bivittatus), Bruner spur-throated grasshopper (Melanoplus bruneri) | Canada | English | Media article, Locust outbreaks, Locusts, Outbreaks, Crop health, Agriculture, Forecasting | |
| Google Earth Engine | Information hub | Google Earth Engine | Desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria) | Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, Oceania | English | Forecasting, Meteorology | |
| International Research Institute for Climate and Society (IRI) | Information hub | The Earth Institute, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, Oceania | English | Forecasting, Meteorology | ||
| Locusts devour 3 000 hectares of grazing on EC farm | 2021 | Media | Food for Mzansi | Brown locust (Locustana pardalina) | South Africa | English | Media article, Locust outbreaks, Locusts, Outbreaks, Infestations, Grazing, Livestock, Rainfall, Monitoring, Forecasting, Agriculture, Migration, Pesticide management, Pesticides, Governance, Spraying, Community development
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| Locusts: A close-up look at the swarms devouring the world's crops - BBC News | Media | BBC News | Desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria) | English | Media article, Infographic, Locust outbreaks, Locusts, Outbreaks, Infestations, Agriculture, Crop health, Food security, Livelihoods, Rainfall, Forecasting, Biology, Ecology, Morphology, Behavior, Migration, Distribution, Climate change
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| New Generation of Desert Locusts Breeding in Horn of Africa | 2020 | Media | Bloomberg News | Desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria) | English | Media article, Outbreaks, Locust outbreaks, Locusts, Infestations, Forecasting | |
| Northern Cape ready and waiting for what could be 'record number' of locusts | 2021 | Media | Times Live | Brown locust (Locustana pardalina) | South Africa | English | Media article, Locust outbreaks, Locusts, Outbreaks, Infestations, Rainfall, Agriculture, Crop health, Forecasting, Pesticides, Management, Food security |
| USAID NASA SERVIR | Information hub | SERVIR Global | Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, Oceania | English | Forecasting, Meteorology | ||
| USGS FEWS NET Data Portal | Information hub | United States Geological Survey, United States Agency for International Development | Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, Oceania | English | Forecasting, Meteorology | ||
| Why today's biblical locust swarms can't be stopped | 2020 | Media | Mashable | Desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria) | English | Media article, Locust outbreaks, Outbreaks, Locusts, Infestations, Agriculture, Mechanical control, Chemical control, Management, Pesticides, Forecasting, Monitoring, Migration, Pesticide management, Public health, Crop health, Food security, Behavior, Rainfall, Climate change
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Weather
Querying the database found no results.
Unmaintained early warning efforts
IASC Humanitarian Early Warning Service (HEWSweb)
Summary for website: "...an inter-agency partnership project aimed at establishing a common platform for humanitarian early warnings and forecasts for natural hazards."
Information Core for Southern African Migrant Pests (ICOSAMP)
Migrant Pest Information System for decision makers in the SADC region
Drones
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones, are being developed for locust management with the hope of expanding survey areas, translating landscape images to decision-makers in real-time, and applying chemicals in control campaigns. At present, there have been some successes with using drones for surveillance that can transmit data to the FAO eLocust3 tablet in near real time [1]. However, their small size limits the weight they can carry for control spraying (only 10 kg) and other limitations like short battery life (limited flight time of 10–15 min), operating costs, and lack of trained operators still presents barriers to making this technology more successful [1].
Organizations associated with drones
| Organization | Acronym | Website | Type | Focus | Focus keywords | Geographic purview |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| View URL | Private Sector | Other | Robotics & drone technology | Kenya | ||
| View URL | Private Sector | Development, Management, Education, Research | Forecasting, Sustainable development, Technology, Training, Robotics & drone technology | Spain, Brazil, Denmark | ||
| View URL | Private Sector | Other | Technology, Robotics & drone technology | |||
| View URL | Private Sector | Management | Robotics & drone technology | United States of America |
Drone resources
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Matthews GA (2021) New Technology for Desert Locust Control. Agronomy 11: 1052. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11061052