Training on Installation, Configuration and Usage of WRF-Hydro model Dr. Addisu Gezahegn | Dr. Gulilat Tefera | Dr. Teferi Demissie | Mr. Yonas Mersha | Mr. Tamirat Bekele 1 Workshop Report Training on Installation, Configuration and Usage of WRF- Hydro model Workshop Report Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) January, 2023 Dr. Addisu Gezahegn Dr. Gulilat Tefera Dr. Teferi Demissie Mr. Yonas Mersha Mr. Tamirat Bekele 2 To cite this workshop report About AICCRA reports Titles in this series aim to disseminate interim climate change, agriculture, and food security research and practices and stimulate feedback from the scientific community. About AICCRA The Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) project is supported by a grant from the International Development Association (IDA) of the World Bank. Contact us Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA). Email: aiccra@cgiar.org Disclaimer: This workshop report has not been peer-reviewed. Any opinions stated herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the policies or opinions of AICCRA, donor agencies, or partners. All images remain the sole property of their source and may not be used for any purpose without the written permission of the source. 3 This workshop report is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution – NonCommercial 4.0 International License. © 2022 Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA). Acknowledgments The Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) project is supported by a grant from the International Development Association (IDA) of the World Bank. IDA helps the world's poorest countries by providing grants and low to zero-interest loans for projects and programs that boost economic growth, reduce poverty, and improve poor people's lives. IDA is one of the largest sources of assistance for the world's 76 poorest countries, 39 of which are in Africa. Annual IDA commitments have averaged about $21 billion over circa 2017-2020, with approximately 61 percent going to Africa. This report is an output of ILRI Consultancy work on “Improving Flash-flood forecasting using WRF-Hydro Model’ funded by CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) project. We also would like to acknowledge Ethiopian Meteorological Institute for providing the HPC infrastructure, training facilities and comfortable working environment. 4 About the authors Dr. Addisu Gezahegn, Assistant Professor, AAU Dr. Gulilat Tefera, research associate, Canada Dr. Teferi Demissie, Climate scientist, CGIAR Research Program on Climate change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) East Africa. Mr. Yonas Mersha, Phd student, AAU Mr. Tamirat Bekele, Phd student, AAU Acronyms AAU Addis Ababa University AMU Arba-Minch University ERA5 Fifth generation ECMWF atmospheric reanalysis ESMF Earth System Model Framework GIS Geographic Information System HPC High Performance Computing MW & E Ministry of Water and Energy WFDEI WATCH Forcing Data by making use of ERA-Interim reanalysis data WRF Weather Research and Forecasting Model WPS WRF Pre-processing System 5 Table of contents Acknowledgments ................................................................................................................................ 4 Table of contents .................................................................................................................................. 6 Background ........................................................................................................................................... 7 Objectives of the workshop/training ..................................................................................................... 7 Scope of the workshop ......................................................................................................................... 7 Target Participants ................................................................................................................................ 7 Trainees’ participation in daily activities ............................................................................................. 8 Training Methodology .......................................................................................................................... 8 Conclusion & Recommendations ......................................................................................................... 8 Annexes ................................................................................................................................................ 9 Annexes .............................................................................................................................................. 11 6 Background Understanding the mechanisms leading to heavy precipitation events and accurate modelling of the surface hydrology is crucial for producing a reliable flood early warning system. In this workshop we used uncoupled WRF-Hydro model, an open-source community model, for the flash flood prediction. The model can also be used for a range of projects, including regional hydro-climate impacts assessment, seasonal forecasting of water resources, and land-atmosphere coupling studies. The underlying goal of WRF-Hydro development is to improve prediction skill of hydro-meteorological forecasts using science based numerical prediction tools. In addition to the hydrological modelling, understanding the atmospheric process is equally important to get a better insight regarding flood events. Large scale atmospheric and surface fields associated with selected extreme precipitation events are analysed in this workshop using ERA5 reanalysis, to understand the processes leading to such heavy precipitation events. The uncoupled WRF-Hydro model can take the meteorological forcing data from various sources such as ERA5 reanalysis data, WRF model outputs, WFDEI data set (WATCH Forcing Data by making use of ERA- Interim reanalysis data) and others. The participants are asked to form a group, each group prepared different meteorological forcing data and used it to run the uncoupled WRF-Hydro model. At the end of the training, each group made a 15-minute presentation that depicts their experience of running the WRF-Hydro simulation. Objectives of the workshop/training • Understanding the atmospheric processes leading to heavy precipitation • Produce a reliable flood early warning system using WRF-Hydro model Scope of the workshop Specifically, the training workshop will focus on the following key points: • Land surface modelling • Installation, configuration, and simulation of flood events using WRF-Hydro model • Examine the atmospheric precursors leading to heavy precipitation events that cause flash floods Target Participants This workshop is mainly organized for Ethiopian Meteorology Institute employees who are working on meteorological forecast (short, medium, and long range), numerical weather prediction, hydrology, and early warning. In addition, we have participants from Abra-Minch University and Ministry of Water and Energy. 7 [Date] Trainees’ participation in daily activities The participants have done the following major activities: • Configure and Install uncoupled WRF-Hydro model • Define the domain using the WRF pre-processing system • Define the initial conditions using WRF • Create Hydro routing inputs by utilizing WRF-Hydro GIS Pre-processing tool • Prepare Meteorological forcing data by making use of ESMF re-gridding scripts • Run the model simulations once all the inputs are ready • Visualize, analyse, and verify model outputs by using Python scripts Training Methodology The training designed to give lectures in the morning sessions only. After the lectures most of the activities are carried out by guided practice. All the trainees have user account on EMI’s HPC cluster, and they are expected to connect to the HPC cluster to conduct the hands-on exercises. Conclusion & Recommendations The training started by giving a broader perspective of land surface models. Most of the morning sessions were designed to provide the theoretical background, application, and calibration of the WRF-Hydro model. The training activity-built EMI capacity to take full advantage of using the numerical uncoupled WRF-Hydro model. Towards this goal all participants get the exposure of defining the domain and initial conditions that they were interested to investigate by utilizing the WRF Pre-processing System (WPS) and WRF model. Moreover, the participants managed to create Hydro routing inputs and prepare the meteorological forcing data. While they were doing their group project, they demonstrated how to run the WRF-Hydro model and visualize the model outputs. During the last session, there were discussion on potential collaborations between EMI, Arba-Minch University, Ministry of Water and Energy, AAU, and other stakeholders by the representative of the institutes and Dr. Teferi Demissie. The discussion focused on how to make WRF-Hydro model operational and research 8 [Date] collaboration targeted to model calibration and model coupling. It has been highlighted that more training and research collaborations are essential to improve the Ethiopian Meteorological Institute capacity of flood monitoring and early warning system. Annexes Annex 1: Workshop program Day Time Activity and presentations Facilitator(s) Day1 8:30 – 09:45 Registration Dr. Teferi Demissie Welcoming Speech Mr. Fetene Teshome Introductory remark 09:45 – 10:30 Land Surface Model Dr. Gulilat Tefera 10:30 – 11:00 Coffee Break 11:00 – 12:00 Introduction to WRF Hydro- Dr. Addisu Gezahegn model 12:00 – 13:30 Lunch Break 13:30 – 17:30 Installation and configuration of Dr. Addisu Gezahegn WRF-Hydro model Mr. Yonas Mersha Mr. Tamirat Bekele Day 2 8:30 – 09:45 Application of Hydrological Dr. Gulilat Tefera models 09:45 – 10:30 Calibration and Case study of Dr. Addisu Gezahegn flood events 10:30 – 11:00 Coffee Break 11:00 – 12:00 Define Domain using WPS and Dr. Addisu Gezahegn WRF 12:00 – 13:30 Lunch Break 13:30 – 17:30 Define initial condition for the Dr. Addisu Gezahegn simulation Mr. Yonas Mersha Mr. Tamirat Bekele Day 3 8:30 – 09:45 WRF-Hydro model drainage and Dr. Addisu Gezahegn surface routing 09:45 – 10:30 Create Hydro routing inputs Mr. Yonas Mersha using WRF-Hydro GIS pre- processing tool 10:30 – 11:00 Coffee Break 11:00 – 12:00 Prepare Meteorological Forcing Dr. Addisu Gezahegn Data for WRF-Hydro simulation 12:00 – 13:30 Lunch Break 13:30 – 17:30 Modify the ESMF regridding for Dr. Addisu Gezahegn ERA5 data Mr. Yonas Mersha Mr. Tamirat Bekele 9 [Date] Day 4 8:30 – 09:45 Large scale atmospheric Dr. Gulilat Tefera circulations linked to floods 09:45 – 10:30 Run WRF-Hydro model Dr. Addisu Gezahegn simulations 10:30 – 11:00 Coffee Break 11:00 – 12:00 Run WRF-Hydro simulations Dr. Addisu Gezahegn and observe model outputs 12:00 – 13:30 Lunch Break 13:30 – 17:30 Evaluate Model output using Dr. Addisu Gezahegn Python programming language Mr. Yonas Mersha Mr. Tamirat Bekele Day 5 8:30 – 09:45 Work on a Project Dr. Gulilat Tefera Dr. Addisu Gezahegn Mr. Yonas Mersha Mr. Tamirat Bekele 09:45 – 10:30 Work on a Project Dr. Gulilat Tefera Dr. Addisu Gezahegn Mr. Yonas Mersha Mr. Tamirat Bekele 10:30 – 11:00 Coffee Break 11:00 – 12:00 Work on a Project Dr. Gulilat Tefera Dr. Addisu Gezahegn Mr. Yonas Mersha Mr. Tamirat Bekele 12:00 – 13:30 Lunch Break 13:30 – 17:30 Work on a Project Dr. Gulilat Tefera Dr. Addisu Gezahegn Mr. Yonas Mersha Mr. Tamirat Bekele Day 6 8:30 – 09:45 Work on a Project Dr. Addisu Gezahegn Mr. Yonas Mersha Mr. Tamirat Bekele 09:45 – 10:30 Work on a Project Dr. Addisu Gezahegn Mr. Yonas Mersha Mr. Tamirat Bekele 10:30 – 11:00 Tea Break 11:00 – 12:00 Work on a Project Dr. Addisu Gezahegn Mr. Yonas Mersha Mr. Tamirat Bekele 12:00 – 13:30 Lunch Break 13:30 – 17:30 Participants Presentation and Discussion 10 [Date] Annexes Annex 2: Participant’s list S/ no. First Name Last Name Gender Organization 1 Fetene Teshome M EMI 2 Asaminew Teshome M EMI 3 Kinfe H/mariam M EMI 4 Bekele Kebebe M EMI 5 Desalegn Huluka M EMI 6 Ibrahim Shumisu M MW&E 7 Etaychu Teferi F MW&E 8 Kumneger Elias M AMU 9 Hagri Kasia F EMI 10 Mulualem Abera M EMI 11 Tegegn Tekele M AMU 12 Nebiyu Waliyi M AMU 13 Leta Bekele M EMI 14 Tarkegn Abera M EMI 15 Samrawit Abebe F EMI 16 Sintayhu Tewabe F EMI 17 Tarik Wodaje F EMI 18 Estifanose Fekadu M EMI 19 G/mariam Adane M EMI 20 Alemu Gamini M EMI 21 Sinegrorgis Gurmu M EMI 22 Hirut Alemu F EMI 23 Almaz Kebede F EMI 24 Bekalu Tamen M EMI 25 Samuel Tilahun M EMI 11 [Date] Annex 3: Photos from the Workshop Training in pictures 12 [Date] About AICCRA Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) is a project that helps deliver a climate-smart African future driven by science and innovation in agriculture. It is led by the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT and supported by a grant from the International Development Association (IDA) of the World Bank. Discover more at 13 [Date]