Climate Hazards Center

What Climate Hazards Center does

The Climate Hazards Center (CHC) is an official research center within the University of California, Santa Barbara, dedicated to advancing drought early warning science and food security monitoring. It operates as a multidisciplinary alliance of climate scientists and food security analysts that integrates satellite-based earth observations, climate models, crop models, station data, and socioeconomic datasets to predict and monitor droughts and food shortages among vulnerable populations.

CHC's product portfolio is anchored by CHIRPS (Climate Hazards Center Infrared Precipitation with Stations), a quasi-global 40+ year satellite-based precipitation dataset validated against more than 1,200 rain gauge stations in East Africa. The center has progressively extended this core asset with CHIRPS-GEFS (1-to-16 day rainfall forecasts), CHIRTS-daily (high-resolution temperature), multi-model ensemble seasonal forecasts, the Early Warning eXplorer (EWX) visualization platform, the Seasonal Monitoring and Probability Generator (SMPG), and a 3D-PAWS (3D-Printed Automatic Weather Stations) network deployed across Kenya and Zimbabwe. CHIRPS v3 was released in 2026 with documentation in Nature Scientific Data.

CHC operates as a non-commercial, grant-funded research entity under UC Santa Barbara. There is no commercial pricing model; all data products and tools are provided as open-access resources to support humanitarian early warning efforts. Primary funding flows from US government agencies (USAID through FEWS NET, USGS, and NASA), with deep operational partnerships with FEWS NET, NASA Harvest, NOAA, ECMWF, IRI, and UCAR. Distribution occurs through the CHC Data Portal, FEWS NET Data Portal, NASA Giovanni, regional climate outlook forums, and direct scientific engagements with national meteorological agencies across East Africa, Southern Africa, Central America, and South Asia.

Name

Climate Hazards Center

Legal name

The Regents of the University of California

Website

https://chc.ucsb.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Climate Hazards Center is a UC Santa Barbara research center that develops open-access satellite-based climate datasets and analytical tools — notably CHIRPS rainfall data — to support drought early warning and food security monitoring for humanitarian organizations, national meteorological agencies, and FEWS NET globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Climate Data and Drought Early Warning Systems

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (54162)

akta.pro primary industry

Climate Hazard & Catastrophe Modeling (Flood, Wind, Wildfire, Heat, Sea-Level Rise) (EUABALAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Early Warning, Event Monitoring & Forecasting (Extreme Weather Alerts, Nowcasting) (EUABALAJ), Downscaled Climate Projections & Scenario Analytics (CMIP, SSP/RCP, Regionalization) (EUABALAB), Environmental Monitoring, Data & Reporting (Air/Water/Soil) (BPAIAMAC)

Keywords

• Climate data products
• Drought early warning
• Food security monitoring
• Satellite precipitation data
• Climate forecasting tools

Headquarters

HQ city

Santa Barbara

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations

Revenue model

1. Research Grants and Institutional Funding: The Climate Hazards Center operates as an official research center at UC Santa Barbara, funded primarily through grants from US government agencies including USAID, USGS, and NASA. These grants support the center's mission of advancing drought early warning science and providing data products to FEWS NET and international humanitarian organizations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Climate Hazards Center develops and provides satellite-based precipitation datasets (CHIRPS, CHIRPS-GEFS, CHIRTS), climate monitoring and forecasting tools (Early Estimates, EWX, SMPG, MME, SubC), low-cost 3D-PAWS weather stations, and recurring analytical reports for drought early warning and food security monitoring. All data products and tools are provided as open-access resources to humanitarian organizations, government meteorological agencies, and research institutions worldwide.

Product overview

The Climate Hazards Center provides an integrated suite of climate and precipitation data products, monitoring tools, and analytical services for drought early warning and food security analysis. The core portfolio centers on satellite-based precipitation datasets (CHIRPS v3) and derived forecast products (CHIRPS-GEFS) combined with multi-model ensemble climate forecasts (MME, SubC). Key analytical tools include the Early Warning eXplorer (EWX) for geospatial data visualization, the Seasonal Monitoring and Probability Generator (SMPG) for seasonal rainfall analysis, and WRSI for crop water modeling. Data is accessible through the CHC data portal and is integrated with FEWS NET, NASA, NOAA, and international climate data services. The center also operates a network of 3D-PAWS automated weather stations for enhanced ground observations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CHIRPS: Climate Hazards Center Infrared Precipitation with Stations - a widely used satellite-based rainfall estimation dataset
• CHIRPS-GEFS
• CHIRTS
• Early Estimates
• Early Warning eXplorer (EWX)

Products and services

• CHIRPS v3 (Climate Hazards Center Infrared Precipitation with Stations) Satellite-based precipitation dataset combining infrared satellite data with station observations, providing quasi-global rainfall estimates from 1981 to present at high spatial resolution for drought and flood monitoring. Used by humanitarian organizations, meteorological agencies, and researchers.
• CHIRPS-GEFS Daily bias-corrected rainfall forecast product combining CHIRPS satellite data with NCEP GEFS outputs, providing 1-to-16 day forecasts at 0.05 degree global resolution for agroclimatic and hydrologic hazard early warning. Used by FEWS NET and meteorological agencies.
• CHC Early Estimates Regional rainfall monitoring maps updated every five days showing current rainfall conditions for multiple accumulation periods, with variants for Recent Rainfall and Seasonal Rainfall plus forecast versions incorporating 15-day outlooks. Used for agroclimatic monitoring.
• Early Warning eXplorer (EWX) Web-based geospatial single-page application enabling scientists, analysts, and policymakers to view and compare diverse drought monitoring and famine early warning datasets side-by-side within the same spatial and temporal boundaries.
• Seasonal Multi-Model Ensemble Forecasts (MME) Probabilistic seasonal climate forecasts derived from combining North American Multi-Model Ensemble (NMME) and ECMWF SEAS5 outputs, providing global and regional percentile/SPI forecast maps with 130+ ensemble members for 6-month forecasts and 80+ for 8-month forecasts.
• Seasonal Monitoring and Probability Generator (SMPG) QGIS-based tool that monitors rainy season progress by comparing observed rainfall with long-term averages and historical analog years, generating end-of-season outlooks with probability calculations combining observations, forecasts, and analog scenarios.
• Experimental Subseasonal Forecasts (SubC) Subseasonal precipitation forecasts bridging the gap between short-range weather and long-range seasonal predictions, utilizing 10-30 day forecasts from the Subseasonal Consortium (SubC) for agricultural and hydrological early warning.
• CHIRTS-daily Quasi-global high-resolution daily temperature dataset developed by CHC scientists, providing temperature data complementary to CHIRPS precipitation data for comprehensive climate monitoring.
• 3D-PAWS (3D-Printed Automatic Weather Stations) Low-cost weather station network using 3D-printed sensor housings, microsensors, and microloggers providing observations every 15 minutes including rainfall, temperature, pressure, and humidity data for real-time monitoring in data-sparse regions.
• East Africa Special Reports Seasonal agroclimate analysis reports for East Africa combining observed CHIRPS data, additional station observations, CHIRPS-GEFS precipitation forecasts, and analog-year based precipitation observations. Used by FEWS NET and humanitarian partners.
• Monthly Agroclimate Outlooks Monthly assessments of observed and anticipated growing season conditions across sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, Afghanistan, and other FEWS NET regions, incorporating CHIRPS rainfall data, satellite observations, hydrologic models, and crop yield analyses.
• Climate Modes Analysis Maps and factsheets summarizing global precipitation patterns associated with major climate modes including El Niño, La Niña, and Indian Ocean Dipole for climate forecasting applications.

Quantifiable outcome

• CHIRPS validation showed significantly higher skill and lower bias than ARC2 and comparable or better performance than TAMSAT products
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

AI capability3 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• FEWS NET (Famine Early Warning Systems Network)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe CHC provides early warning data and analysis to FEWS NET, one of the primary humanitarian early warning networks. CHC scientists contribute to FEWS NET food security outlooks and the network's regional scientists provide field validation for CHC products. This is a flagship partnership supporting global food security monitoring.
• USGS (United States Geological Survey)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with USGS for satellite-based earth observations and remote sensing data. USGS EROS provides vegetation anomaly data and supports the FEWS NET data portal infrastructure. USGS scientists co-author research publications with CHC.
• NASAcoreTechnology or IntegrationNASA provides satellite data inputs (Landsat, MODIS) and funding through programs including NASA SERVIR AST, NASA Harvest, and NASA Earth and Space Science Technology (FINESST). CHC data products are featured in NASA Giovanni portal.
• NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)coreTechnology or IntegrationNOAA provides GEFS forecast data used in CHIRPS-GEFS products, NMME model outputs for seasonal forecasting, and reanalysis data. NOAA PSL scientists collaborate on sub-seasonal to seasonal forecast research.
• NASA HarvestcoreTechnology or IntegrationNASA Harvest program utilizes CHIRPS-GEFS for agricultural monitoring and crop yield forecasting. CHC scientists collaborate with NASA Harvest on methods for blending satellite data with forecasts.
• UCAR (University Corporation for Atmospheric Research)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with UCAR COMET program to deploy 3D-PAWS (3D-Printed Automatic Weather Stations) in Kenya and Zimbabwe. UCAR provides technical expertise for low-cost weather station manufacturing and deployment.
• Kenya Meteorological DepartmentcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerKMD co-locates 3D-PAWS stations with existing GTS reporting sites and provides meteorological observations for validation. KMD uses CHC data products for national climate services and monitoring.
• Meteorological Services Department of ZimbabwecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMSD partners with CHC for 3D-PAWS deployment in Zimbabwe. Station data supports real-time monitoring in remote areas with previously limited observations.
• IRI (International Research Institute for Climate and Society)coreTechnology or IntegrationIRI provides Subseasonal Consortium (SubC) forecasts and access to NMME model data through IRI Data Library. CHC converts these into probabilistic multi-model ensemble forecast maps.
• ECMWF (European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts)coreTechnology or IntegrationECMWF SEAS5 seasonal forecast system provides climate model outputs incorporated into CHC multi-model ensemble forecasts. Data accessed through Copernicus Climate Data Store.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• International Research Institute for Climate and Society (IRI): IRI at Columbia University produces seasonal climate forecasts, climate data products, and applied climate analysis for food security, water, and health applications. It is the closest academic peer to CHC in terms of mission, customer base, and product portfolio.
• Climate Central: Climate Central is a climate science and communications organization producing research, datasets, and visualization tools on climate impacts. It shares CHC's blend of scientific output and applied decision-support for vulnerable regions.
• aWhere: aWhere provides agricultural weather and climate data products, including daily gridded weather datasets, for agronomic decision support globally. Its agricultural-meteorological focus overlaps with CHC's CHIRPS/CHIRTS and WRSI offerings.
• The Climate Corporation: Acquired by Bayer, The Climate Corporation builds agricultural decision-support tools and climate/weather data products for farmers. Its focus on climate-informed agricultural analytics is directly comparable to CHC's crop and food-security applications.

Broad incumbents

• DTN: DTN delivers weather, climate, and agricultural intelligence to enterprise customers across energy, agriculture, and transportation. It is a broad incumbent operating in adjacent commercial markets with comparable meteorological data products.
• European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF): ECMWF produces global numerical weather predictions and seasonal forecasts used by national meteorological services worldwide. It supplies SEAS5 inputs to CHC and is a broader incumbent in the global climate/weather modeling space.
• UK Met Office: The UK Met Office delivers national and global weather and climate services, including seasonal forecasting and hazard modeling. It is a broader incumbent operating at much larger scale across CHC's product categories.
• NOAA Climate Prediction Center: NOAA CPC produces US and global seasonal climate outlooks, drought monitoring, and El Niño/La Niña analyses. It is a major public-sector incumbent providing overlapping products to many of CHC's users.

Emerging players

• Tomorrow.io: Tomorrow.io is a commercial weather intelligence company deploying its own satellite constellation and AI-driven precipitation nowcasting. It represents an emerging commercial competitor to CHC's observational and forecasting products in commercial markets.
• Jupiter Intelligence: Jupiter Intelligence provides climate risk analytics for infrastructure, finance, and corporate customers, including physical climate hazard modeling. It overlaps with CHC in climate hazard modeling but targets commercial risk-management customers.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/climatehazards
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@climatehazardscenter
• Facebookfacebook.com/climatehazardscenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/climate-hazards-center
• Instagraminstagram.com/ucsb_chc/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Climate Hazards Center