Comparative analysis of machine learning models for rainfall prediction

Abstract

Predicting rainfall is essential for many applications, including agriculture, hydrology, and disaster management. In this work, we undertake a comparison examination of various machine learning models to forecast rainfall based on meteorological data. The target variable in this study is rainfall, and the dataset used includes characteristics like temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and wind direction. The following seven machine learning models were assessed: Support Vector Regression (SVR), Multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARS), Random Forest Regression, and Deep Neural Network with Historical Data (DWFH), Haar Wavelet Function, Decision Tree and Discrete wavelet Transform (DWT). Data preprocessing, which includes standardisation and lagging to capture temporal dependencies, comes first in the analysis phase. A wavelet transformation is also used to capture complex patterns in the data. Each model is tested on a different test set after being trained on a subset of the dataset. The results are assessed using the Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE) and Mean Squared Error (MSE), focusing on the RMSE and MSE values for better comparison across models. Our findings reveal that the DWFH model achieved an RMSE of 0.0138807 mm and MSE of 0.000193 mm², demonstrating their effectiveness in predicting rainfall. The Random Forest and SVR models also provided competitive results. This study highlights the importance of selecting an appropriate machine learning model for rainfall prediction and the significance of preprocessing techniques in improving model performance. These insights can aid decision-makers in choosing the most suitable model for their specific application, contributing to more accurate rainfall predictions and enhanced decision support systems.