This paper illustrates that in regions that suffer from lack of meteorological information, the cellular phone network can provide rainfall measurement and mapping. This is illustrated in Niamey, the capital city of Niger using data provided by a telecom operator during 2017, a season marked by many intense rainfall. We analyse the microwave attenuation and transform it into rainfall maps, every 15 minutes, showing very high rainfall rates related to intense tropical convection.

Fresh water stored on and beneath land helps people and ecosystems survive dry periods, but GRACE satellite records begin only in 2002. We tested whether tree rings can extend water storage records further back in time. Across western North America, tree growth often tracked yearly storage changes, especially in dry regions. These findings provide a new way to place recent droughts and water shortages in a much longer historical context.