Machine Learning Models for Climate Prediction and Adaptation in Botswana: A Methodological Approach

Climate change poses significant challenges to Botswana's agricultural sector and water resources management. Accurate climate prediction models are essential for effective adaptation planning. We employed a Random Forest model with cross-validation techniques to analyse historical meteorological data from the Botswana Meteorological Services. Uncertainty quantification was achieved using bootstrapping methods. The Random Forest model demonstrated an accuracy of 85% in predicting rainfall patterns, indicating its potential for climate adaptation planning. Our study provides a robust machine learning framework that can enhance Botswana's ability to anticipate and adapt to changing climatic conditions. Government agencies should integrate these models into their decision-making processes for sustainable resource management. Machine Learning, Climate Prediction, Adaptation Planning, Random Forest, Uncertainty Quantification Model estimation used θ̂=argminθ∑ᵢ(yᵢ,f_θ(xᵢ))+λθ₂², with performance evaluated using out-of-sample error.