Prerequisites¶
Technical Requirements¶
1. Hardware & Operating System¶
Minimum specifications:
- OS: Ubuntu 22.04 LTS (recommended) or Ubuntu 20.04 LTS
- RAM: 8 GB minimum, 16 GB recommended
- Storage: 50 GB free disk space
- Processor: Multi-core CPU (4+ cores recommended)
- Internet: Stable connection for data downloads (CHIRPS, ERA5-Land)
Windows/macOS Users
VECTRI runs natively on Linux. If you use Windows or macOS, please set up:
- Windows: WSL2 (Windows Subsystem for Linux) with Ubuntu 22.04
- macOS: Docker container or virtual machine with Ubuntu 22.04
Knowledge Prerequisites¶
Required Background¶
Essential Knowledge
- Programming: Basic Python (pandas, numpy, matplotlib)
- Command Line: Comfortable with Linux terminal/bash
- Climate Science: Understanding of precipitation, temperature, climate variables
- Public Health: Basic malaria epidemiology concepts
Helpful (Not Required)¶
- Experience with NetCDF/GRIB data formats
- GIS tools (QGIS, ArcGIS) or Python geospatial libraries (xarray, geopandas)
- Fortran compilation (for troubleshooting)
- Climate model output interpretation
Accounts & Access¶
1. Data Access Accounts¶
Create these accounts before the workshop:
| Service | Purpose | Registration Link |
|---|---|---|
| Climate Data Store (CDS) | ERA5-Land downloads | cds.climate.copernicus.eu |
| CHIRPS | Rainfall data | data.chc.ucsb.edu |
| Google Earth Engine | Optional: satellite data | earthengine.google.com |
CDS API Setup
After registering for CDS, retrieve your API key from your profile page and create ~/.cdsapirc:
