The head of the Barbados-based Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH), Dr. David Farrell, says earth observation provides an important opportunity for the Caribbean to strengthen the information available to understand, monitor and respond to the hazards and environmental challenges facing the region.
Farrell was speaking at a workshop that ended here last weekend that was aimed at strengthening the capacity of CIMH staff to develop and use satellite-based Earth Observation tools to support environmental monitoring, disaster risk reduction and climate resilience across the Caribbean.
He workshop was supported the European Union (EU) and Farrell, the CIMPH Principal, said it provided participants with greater ability to develop and manage tools that respond specifically to Caribbean needs, without having to rely on external expertise for every stage of the process.
“By strengthening these skills within CIMH, we can continue to expand the services and information we provide to Caribbean Meteorological Organization (CMO) member states and support better preparedness, decision-making and resilience across the region.
“The WASDI (Web Advanced Space Developer Interface) platform was used extensively by the CIMH and its collaborators to support impact-based forecasts for Jamaica prior to the impacts of Hurricane Melissa in 2025 and to support post-impact assessments following the passage of the Hurricane,” he added.
The workshop built on introductory training previously received by CIMH during the Copernicus Latin America and Caribbean EOService Development (CopernicusLAC) project. It provided hands-on experience through the co-development of three Earth Observation applications focused on Sargassum detection, landslide detection and ground deformation detection.
It also focused on the use of the WASDI, a platform that enables users to access and process satellite Earth Observation data and develop applications that turn satellite observations into useful information.
During the CopernicusLAC project, the WASDI platform was installed at CIMH with links to the main production environment hosted in Luxembourg. CIMH said that similar capacity will be developed in CMO member states, the regional academic community, and Institutions of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in the future.
The head of the European Delegation to Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean States and the OECS, Ambassador Fiona Ramsey, underscored the importance of international cooperation in strengthening regional Earth Observation capabilities in the Caribbean.
“Through Global Gateway, the European Union is working with the Caribbean Meteorological Organization, in particular with its technical organ the CIMH, and countries across the region to strengthen the use of science, technology and innovation for greater resilience.
“This training is a concrete example of that partnership in action. It builds on the study tour organized earlier this year to explore how Earth Observation and satellite technologies can support stronger monitoring and early action, and complements initiatives such as Stormwatch, which strengthens Caribbean-EU cooperation on weather and climate-related risks.”
The diplomat said that by enabling CIMH experts to develop and maintain Earth Observation applications themselves, “we are helping to build lasting technical capacity in the region.
“This is at the heart of our approach: working with Caribbean institutions and countries to adapt innovative technologies to local needs, supporting better preparedness and resilience across the Caribbean, while generating knowledge and experience that can also help improve Earth Observation applications and climate services in Europe.”
The CIMH said that initial versions of the three applications were developed during the training with the possibility of further refinement and expansion following the knowledge transfer sessions.
It said the Sargassum Detection tool uses satellite imagery to identify and track Sargassum, supporting on-demand monitoring of blooms that are known to affect tourism, fisheries, and coastal ecosystems.
CIMH said that the Landslide Detection application will utilize both radar and optical imagery to improve the detection of landslides that an occur following intense and prolonged rainfall. Radar can provide observations through cloud cover, making it particularly useful in the Caribbean.
It said that the InSAR-based Ground Deformation Monitoring tool supports the detection and monitoring of displacement in the Earth’s surface, including the gradual deformation and slow-moving landslides that often precede more significant failures.
“By strengthening CIMH personnel’s ability to develop and maintain these applications, the training helped build a stronger regional foundation for using satellite information to monitor hazards, support preparedness and inform decisions. In turn, this can contribute to better protection of Caribbean communities, livelihoods, infrastructure, and the environment, while strengthening the region’s ability to anticipate and respond to environmental and disaster risks,” CIMH added. (CMC)