Water Wheel July/Aug 2026: Citizen Science And Climate Change

Abstract

Project builds bridge to climate resilience through citizen science In many South African communities, the signs of changing weather have long been read not from satellites or smartphone apps, but from the land itself. The movement of birds, the flowering of certain trees, the appearance of stars, and even the behaviour of insects have helped communities predict rainfall, droughts, storms, and seasonal shifts for generations. But climate change is beginning to disrupt these age-old signals. Rain now arrives later than expected or in great angry bursts that cause flooding and devastation. Droughts last longer. Heatwaves are becoming more intense. Plants flower at unusual times and animal behaviour is changing. A three-year research project led by the South African Weather Service (SAWS), together with the universities of KwaZulu-Natal and Cape Town, has worked to preserve indigenous knowledge about weather and climate while integrating it with modern science to improve climate resilience and early warning systems.

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