NoCORA - Northern Cameroon Observed Rainfall Archive

Description: The NoCORA dataset represents a significant effort to compile and clean a comprehensive set of daily rainfall data for Northern Cameroon (North and Extreme North regions). This dataset, overing more than 1 million observations across 418 rainfall stations on a temporal range going from 1927 to 2022, is instrumental for researchers, meteorologists, and policymakers working in climate research, agricultural planning, and water resource management in the region. It integrates data from diverse sources, including Sodecoton rain funnels, the archive of Robert Morel (IRD), Centrale de Lagdo, the GHCN daily service, and the TAHMO network.

The construction of NoCORA involved meticulous processes, including manual assembly of data, extensive data cleaning, and standardization of station names and coordinates, making it a hopefully robust and reliable resource for understanding climatic dynamics in Northern Cameroon.

Data Sources: The dataset comprises eight primary rainfall data sources and a comprehensive coordinates dataset. The rainfall data sources include extensive historical and contemporary measurements, while the coordinates dataset was developed using reference data and an inference strategy for variant station names or missing coordinates.

Dataset Preparation Methods: The preparation involved manual compilation, integration of machine-readable files, data cleaning with OpenRefine, and finalization using Python/Jupyter Notebook. This process should ensured the accuracy and consistency of the dataset.

Discussion: NoCORA, with its extensive data compilation, presents an invaluable resource for climate-related studies in Northern Cameroon. However, users must navigate its complexities, including missing data interpretations, potential biases, and data inconsistencies. The dataset's comprehensive nature and historical span require careful handling and validation in research applications.

Access to Dataset: The NoCORA dataset, while a comprehensive resource for climatological and meteorological research in Northern Cameroon, is subject to specific access conditions due to its compilation from various partner sources. The original data sources vary in their openness and accessibility, and not all partners have confirmed the open-access status of their data. As such, to ensure compliance with these varying conditions, access to the NoCORA dataset is granted on a request basis. Interested researchers and users are encouraged to contact us for permission to access the dataset. This process allows us to uphold the data sharing agreements with our partners while facilitating research and analysis within the scientific community.

Authors Contributions:

• Data treatment: Victor Hugo Nenwala, Carmel Foulna Tcheobe, Jérémy Lavarenne.
• Documentation: Jérémy Lavarenne.

Funding: This project was funded by the DESIRA INNOVACC project.

Changelog: 

• v1.0.2 : corrected interversion in column names in the coordinates dataset 
• v1.0.1 : dataset specification file has been updated with complementary information regarding station locations
• v1.0.0 : initial submission