Pelágio Julião Maxlhaieie joins the eoLab

Can you describe a bit about your academic and professional background?

I hold a bachelor's degree in Tourism Planning from Eduardo Mondlane University (Mozambique), a master's degree in Geography with a specialization in Territorial and Environmental Analysis from the Institute of Geosciences at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil), and a PhD in Territorial Planning from the Department of Civil Engineering at the Faculty of Science and Technology of the University of Coimbra, in association with the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto.
Since 2009, I have been working as a lecturer and researcher (Assistant Professor) at Eduardo Mondlane University. Since 2021, I have also been collaborating as a lecturer in the Master's Program in Strategic Development of Organizations at the Corporate Business School - Higher School of Corporate and Social Management, where I also serve as the Executive Coordinator of the master's program.
My areas of expertise include Territorial Planning and Organization, Tourism Sustainability Indicators, Engineering Sciences and Technologies with emphasis on Other Engineering and Technologies, Social Sciences with emphasis on Economic and Social Geography, and Urban Studies.

What advantages and challenges do you foresee in the use of satellite-derived precipitation data for applications in Mozambique, and how can they be addressed?

There are several studies documenting the advantages of using satellite-derived precipitation data, with which I agree, and which constitute a fertile field for (future) applications in Mozambique. Initially, it is worth noting that there are three main ways to measure precipitation, namely through (i) rain gauges (pluviometers, pluviographs, or precipitation sensors), (ii) radars, and (iii) remote sensing using satellites equipped with sensors. Studies prove that the latter method overcomes the major deficiencies of rain gauges and radars, providing precipitation data in sparsely populated and difficult-to-access regions, with high latitudes, altitudes, and dry climates. Mozambique is part of this group of regions where accurate precipitation measurements are still scarce, hindering various research and practical applications in strategic sectors, i.e., in the process of making informed decisions about disasters, diseases, resource management, energy production, food security, among other sectors. Therefore, Mozambique has a low density of rain gauges (and weather stations), which limits the accuracy of hydrological, climatological, and energy studies in much of the national territory. Thus, the use of satellite data is a good alternative for estimating precipitation.

Regarding the challenges, well, initially there are several. However, it is worth highlighting that the applications of satellite-derived data in Mozambique essentially depend on (i) the need to invest in advanced remote sensing/earth observation domain, which involves different epistemologies and scientific areas associated with this domain, especially the exact and earth sciences, natural sciences, and engineering; (ii) decoding technical and specialized terms from scientific applications and transitioning them to societal applications and support for policy makers and decision makers; (iii) availability and accuracy of data related to precipitation estimates and mapping of sensitive/vulnerable areas to weather events; (iv) availability of a robust computer system capable of handling large volumes of data, simulations, and scenario development simultaneously; and (v) availability of information in the national territory (database), through local weather stations for data validation. Therefore, the number of agencies monitoring precipitation in Mozambique is limited; in practice, only the National Institute of Meteorology (INAM) stands out, although mention is also made of the Southern Regional Water Administration (ARA Sul), Central ARA, Northern ARA, National Directorate of Water Resources Management (DNGRH), National Directorate of Water Supply and Sanitation (DNAAS), Water Regulatory Authority (AURA), Water Supply and Asset Investment Fund (FIPAG), and National Institute for Disaster Management and Reduction (INGD). Lastly, these challenges can be addressed through instructional educational and applied research. Education seems to be well introduced in primary education, in terms of general concepts and theories, which is then discontinued in secondary and higher education, mainly due to poor investment in the domains of exact and earth sciences, natural sciences, and engineering. Additionally, many higher education institutions graduate students without the necessary practical-laboratory component. With few robust laboratories and universities at the national level, some Mozambicans study abroad and conduct research using the diaspora as an empirical object in their essays/case studies. Consequently, there are few scientific studies developed in this domain of precipitation, considering the geospatial technology inserted in the local and national Mozambican context.

What motivated you to focus on the evaluation of grid precipitation products, particularly IMERG, and its potential applications in Mozambique?

IMERG is a relevant and widely used product of the GPM mission, which has shown good results in estimating precipitation around the globe through various combined satellites. IMERG is a product developed to intercalibrate, merge, and interpolate all microwave estimates from the GPM satellite constellation. The algorithm has been improved to facilitate its manipulation. It is worth noting that IMERG also utilizes radars and a network of standardized rain gauge stations on the ground to make its final adjustments. The product is available almost in real-time, with updated Earth precipitation estimates every half hour, allowing for a wide range of practical (scientific and societal) applications that can assist different users in the national territory.
Mozambique is one of the countries in the southeastern African region, well-known for its territorial vulnerability due to the cyclical occurrence of storms, tropical cyclones, floods, and high tides associated with sea level rise, as well as the effects of meteorological tide, among other events, such as severe drought and dry spells.
In this context, grid precipitation products have a wide range of potential applications in Mozambique, mainly in the area of extreme events (disasters) and their impacts on water resource management and agriculture (food security), which constitute the basis of the country's economy; in mineral-energy potential; and in infrastructure planning and tourism development. These latter sectors, including agriculture, are priorities for the country's economic development, and are prominently featured in the National Development Strategy. However, for these sectors to develop sustainably, a paradigm shift is necessary, and satellite-derived precipitation data, due to their accuracy, are useful in assisting the transition (decision-making) from a scenario of vulnerability to a process of adaptation and mitigation to these meteorological events.

Could you share the specific objectives and results achieved during your stay at eoLab in Portugal?

The stay at the eoLab of the University of Coimbra is part of research focused on the theme "Analysis of the GPM Mission in Precipitation Estimation in the Southern Region of Mozambique." The overall objective is to evaluate the precipitation estimate provided by IMERG in the southern region of Mozambique, between 2001 and 2022, by identifying two events: (i) intense rainfall and (ii) severe drought, with the purpose of assessing their impacts on local/regional agricultural activity. Specifically, the objectives are: (i) to analyze the spatial variability of precipitation with the IMERG estimate; (ii) to identify differences in the IMERG estimate by comparing its daily, monthly, and annual products among sub-regions (river basins of the Maputo, Umbelúzi, Incomáti, and Limpopo rivers), and between these and the southern region itself; (iii) to combine IMERG results with other relevant missions, equivalent to GPM (MODIS - NDVI, LANDSAT, SENTINEL) in assessing the impact of weather events on agricultural activity in southern Mozambique; and (iv) to develop mentoring programs dedicated to precipitation monitoring and studies using satellite data to address scientific and social challenges, as a way to support (technology transfer) new users in Mozambique (universities, research institutions, policy development institutions, the productive sector, and local communities). Naturally, we are talking about progressive and medium-term work, which means that it is still ongoing, as it would not be possible to materialize all specific objectives in three months of internship.

In conclusion, the research conducted during the stay at eoLab in Portugal represents a significant step towards understanding the dynamics of precipitation estimation in the southern region of Mozambique. While the specific objectives are still being pursued, the groundwork laid during this period promises valuable insights into the impacts of weather events on local agricultural activity. As the analysis progresses, the results will be presented soon, offering valuable contributions to both scientific understanding and practical decision-making processes in Mozambique's water resources sector.