Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 27, 2026
07:12
Façade-Level Monitoring of CO2 Variability under Urban Heat Island Conditions using Low-Cost Sensor Data Loggers
Published on: December 12, 2025
278
Precipitation observing network gaps limit climate change impact assessment
Jiajia Su1, Chiyuan Miao2, Francis Zwiers3,4
1State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Disaster Risk Reduction, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China.
Nature
|March 26, 2026
Summary
Global precipitation monitoring is sparse, with only 13.4% of land meeting World Meteorological Organization standards. Urgent expansion of rain gauge networks is needed, especially in climate-vulnerable regions, to improve climate projections and water assessments.
Area of Science:
- Environmental science
- Climate science
- Hydrology
Background:
- Accurate climate projections and water deficiency assessments rely on comprehensive precipitation data.
- Global precipitation monitoring networks face significant data gaps due to observation sparsity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the global distribution of precipitation gauges and identify areas needing network expansion.
- To assess current and future needs for precipitation monitoring under different climate scenarios.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 221,483 international precipitation gauge records from 1900-2022.
- Evaluation of gauge density against World Meteorological Organization standards.
- Identification of regions requiring urgent gauge network expansion based on climate variability and future emission scenarios.
Main Results:
- Only 13.4% of the global land surface meets World Meteorological Organization annual precipitation monitoring requirements.
- Europe exhibits the highest gauge density, with Germany leading among larger countries.
- 25% of land requires urgent gauge network expansion due to climate variability, rising to 32.1% under high-emission scenarios, particularly in regions like India, Greenland, Bolivia, and China.
Conclusions:
- Significant gaps exist in global precipitation monitoring, impacting climate projections and water resource management.
- Strategic investment in new gauges and open data access are crucial for enhancing global monitoring capabilities.
- Future needs for precipitation monitoring are intensified by climate change and socioeconomic factors in vulnerable regions.
Related Concept Videos
01:17Precipitation and Co-precipitation
5.6K
Precipitation and coprecipitation methods can be used to separate a mixture of ions in a solution. In qualitative inorganic analysis, ions that form sparingly soluble precipitates with the same reagent are separated based on the differences in solubility products. For example, consider the separation of Cu(II) and Fe(II) ions by precipitation as insoluble sulfides. First, copper(II) sulfide is precipitated by the addition of acidic H2S, where the dissociation of H2S is suppressed. Adding H2S...
5.6K
01:50Global Climate Change
29.7K
Throughout its ~4.5 billion year history, the Earth has experienced periods of warming and cooling. However, the current drastic increase in global temperatures is well outside of the Earth’s cyclic norms, and evidence for human-caused global climate change is compelling. Paleoclimatology, the study of ancient climate conditions, provides ample evidence for human-caused global climate change by comparing recent conditions with those in the past.
29.7K
01:12Precipitation Processes
6.5K
The experimental conditions in a gravimetric analysis should be optimized to maximize the particle size and purity of the obtained precipitate. Ideally, the concentration of the precipitating reagent should be low with effective stirring to maintain low relative supersaturation for the growth of large crystals. In homogeneous precipitation, the precipitant is slowly generated by a chemical reaction in the solution to avoid local reagent excesses. For example, urea decomposes gradually to...
6.5K
01:16What is Climate?
21.4K
Climate refers to the prevailing weather conditions in a specific area over an extended period. As the saying goes, “Climate is what you expect. Weather is what you get.” Climate is influenced by geographic factors, such as latitude, terrain, and proximity to bodies of water.
21.4K
01:03Precipitation Gravimetry
16.1K
Precipitation gravimetry is based on converting an analyte into a sparingly soluble precipitate, which is separated by filtration and weighed. An ideal precipitate should be pure, insoluble, of known composition, and easily filtered from the reaction mixture.
In determining nickel by gravimetric analysis, a precipitant of ethanolic dimethylglyoxime is added to a hot nickel salt solution. This is quickly followed by the dropwise addition of dilute ammonia solution until precipitation occurs. A...
In determining nickel by gravimetric analysis, a precipitant of ethanolic dimethylglyoxime is added to a hot nickel salt solution. This is quickly followed by the dropwise addition of dilute ammonia solution until precipitation occurs. A...
16.1K
01:19Precipitation Titration: Endpoint Detection Methods
6.3K
In argentometric precipitation titrations, endpoints can be detected visually by the Mohr, Volhard, and Fajans methods. In the Mohr method, adding a soluble chromate indicator gives an initial yellow color to the analyte solution. As the titrant is added, the first excess of silver ions forms a red silver chromate precipitate, marking the endpoint. The solution pH should be maintained at about 8 by adding solid CaCO3.
In the Volhard method, a standard excess of AgNO3 is first added to the...
In the Volhard method, a standard excess of AgNO3 is first added to the...
6.3K