One of the most destructive and common climatic phenomena faced by the territory is hail. In recent years, different episodes have caused damage to homes, vehicles, crops and even people, although, fortunately, the latter have not been serious enough to cause fatalities.
Observations and modelling indicate that climate change is causing an increase in the frequency and size of hail and we are therefore destined to live with this threat in the future.
Euskalmet currently has several hail detection tools, ranging from a weather radar to special sensors at different stations. Using modelling and forecasting capabilities, potentially destructive storm warnings are issued through the “Customised Alert” service. However, the local and ephemeral nature of hail means that there are limitations in the readings that can be taken.
Now you can help change this with Minka/KazkaApp. Through this citizen science project, those interested in collaborated are invited to send in photographs of hail they have witnessed. Recording the location, date and time of the episode and the approximate size of the hail is all of interest.
The main objective is to improve short-term warnings and prevent or reduce the damage caused. In the long term, this will contribute to understanding the effect of climate change on the incidence and size of hail storms.
The hail monitoring project contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): SDG 11 on sustainable cities and communities, SDG 13 on climate action, SDG 17 on partnerships for the goals and to other goals such as SDG 2 on zero hunger, SDG3 on good health and well-being and SDG 4 on quality education.