# Presentation: 370001

## WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION

**WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION**
*Weather, Climate and Water*

- INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON FLASH FLOOD FORECASTING
- OVERVIEW OF THE FLOOD-RELATED PROGRAMMES OF WMO
- Bruce Stewart
- President of CHy

## CONTENT 

Role of WMO in Hydrology and Water Resources
Objectives of WMO in Hydrology and Water Resources
Flood-related Activities
Other WMO Programmes
Conclusions

- Role of WMO in Hydrology and Water Resources
- Objectives of WMO in Hydrology and Water Resources
- Flood-related Activities
- Other WMO Programmes
- Conclusions

## ROLE OF WMO IN HWR 

Safety of life and property
Information and knowledge in support of Integrated Water Resources Management
Capacity building
Support for knowledge based operations and policies
Promotion of risk management approach

- Safety of life and property
- Information and knowledge in support of Integrated Water Resources Management
- Capacity building
- Support for knowledge based operations and policies
- Promotion of risk management approach

## OBJECTIVE OF WMO IN HWR 

To apply hydrology to: 
meet the needs for sustainable development and use of water and related resources; 
the prevention and mitigation of water-related disasters; and
ensure effective environmental management at national, regional and international levels.

- To apply hydrology to:
- meet the needs for sustainable development and use of water and related resources;
- the prevention and mitigation of water-related disasters; and
- ensure effective environmental management at national, regional and international levels.

## FOCUS OF WMO IN HWR 

The measurement of basic hydrological elements form networks of hydrological and meteorological stations
The collection, processing, storage, retrieval and publication of hydrological data
The provision of hydrological data and related information for use in planning and operating water resources projects and monitoring the status of water resources
The provision of effective flood forecasting and warning services

- The measurement of basic hydrological elements form networks of hydrological and meteorological stations
- The collection, processing, storage, retrieval and publication of hydrological data
- The provision of hydrological data and related information for use in planning and operating water resources projects and monitoring the status of water resources
- The provision of effective flood forecasting and warning services

## COMPONENTS OF THE HWRP

Basic Systems in Hydrology
Forecasting and Applications in Hydrology
Sustainable Development of Water Resources
Capacity Building in Hydrology and Water Resources
Water-related Issues

- Basic Systems in Hydrology
- Forecasting and Applications in Hydrology
- Sustainable Development of Water Resources
- Capacity Building in Hydrology and Water Resources
- Water-related Issues

## FLOOD-RELATED ACTIVITIES 

What do we mean by Flood-related activities?

_**FLOOD-RELATED ACTIVITIES **_
- What do we mean by Flood-related activities?

## Total Flood Warning System

## FLOOD RELATED-ACTIVITIES

Prediction
	-	Measurement of rainfall 
	-	Measurement of river height (WHYCOS)
	-	Derivation of streamflow
	-	QPE and QPF
	-	Hydrological Modelling

- Prediction
- 	-	Measurement of rainfall
- 	-	Measurement of river height (WHYCOS)
- 	-	Derivation of streamflow
- 	-	QPE and QPF
- 	-	Hydrological Modelling

## FLOOD RELATED-ACTIVITIES

Interpretation
	-	Flood hazard mapping
	-	Hydraulic modelling
	-	???
Message construction
	-	???

- Interpretation
- 	-	Flood hazard mapping
- 	-	Hydraulic modelling
- 	-	???
- Message construction
- 	-	???

## FLOOD RELATED-ACTIVITIES (Ctd.)

Communication
	-	Collection systems
	-	Dissemination systems
	-	Web-based information
	-	???
Protective response
	-	Design rainfall/flood information 
	-	Awareness raising
	-	???

- Communication
- 	-	Collection systems
- 	-	Dissemination systems
- 	-	Web-based information
- 	-	???
- Protective response
- 	-	Design rainfall/flood information
- 	-	Awareness raising
- 	-	???

## SPECIFIC INITIATIVES

Standards and Practices
Automated rating curve derivation
Streamflow Gauging Manual
Intercomparison Project – Instruments, Transmission Systems
Guide to Hydrological Practices
WHYCOS – HYCOS

- Standards and Practices
- Automated rating curve derivation
- Streamflow Gauging Manual
- Intercomparison Project – Instruments, Transmission Systems
- Guide to Hydrological Practices
- WHYCOS – HYCOS

## SPECIFIC INITIATIVES (Ctd.)

Flood Design Manual
PMP Manual 
Flood Forecasting Manual
WMO Flood Initiative
International Flood Initiative 
Global Flood Forecasting Project

- Flood Design Manual
- PMP Manual
- Flood Forecasting Manual
- WMO Flood Initiative
- International Flood Initiative
- Global Flood Forecasting Project

## GLOBAL/REGIONAL SHORT-TERM HYDROLOGICAL FORECASTING SYSTEM 
RECOMMENDATIONS

The tools should be tested in different river basins (in particular, in an arid/semi-arid region);
Preference should be given to river basins that are multi-national;
The role of the NHSs and other stakeholders must be recognised and maintained
The involvement of relevant WMO Regional Association Working Groups on Hydrology should be sought; and
Possible river basins include: the Limpopo, Lake Victoria, a river basin in West Africa, the Mekong, Central America, the Niger and the Oka.

- RECOMMENDATIONS
- The tools should be tested in different river basins (in particular, in an arid/semi-arid region);
- Preference should be given to river basins that are multi-national;
- The role of the NHSs and other stakeholders must be recognised and maintained
- The involvement of relevant WMO Regional Association Working Groups on Hydrology should be sought; and
- Possible river basins include: the Limpopo, Lake Victoria, a river basin in West Africa, the Mekong, Central America, the Niger and the Oka.

## GLOBAL/REGIONAL SHORT-TERM HYDROLOGICAL FORECASTING SYSTEM 
STEPS/STAGES

A compilation of the approaches (QPE, QPF, etc);
A study identifying in greater detail the strengths and weaknesses of the approaches;
A comparative testing of targeted elements of the forecast capability;
Development of a prototypical composite system or systems; and
Preparation of project packages for funding (including a needs assessment). 

- STEPS/STAGES
- A compilation of the approaches (QPE, QPF, etc);
- A study identifying in greater detail the strengths and weaknesses of the approaches;
- A comparative testing of targeted elements of the forecast capability;
- Development of a prototypical composite system or systems; and
- Preparation of project packages for funding (including a needs assessment).

## RECENT DIRECTIONS

_**Web Products**_
- Maps and data bulletins
- Updated hourly – daily

_**Modelling**_
- Spatially distributed, event-based
- National system - scaleable

_**Hydromet Inputs**_
- Quantitative radar rain
- NWP, QPF

## Single Most Important Action?

- Community education, engagement & awareness – participation, empowerment, ownership. People should be made aware of their personal risk
- Improved agency coordination – national consistency/national agency, improved agency coordination framework
- Better risk communication – incl. use of technology, radio/media accessibility

## CONCLUDING REMARKS

WMO is doing a lot in its areas of expertise
Where should we target future initiatives? 
Any flood forecasting system is only as strong as its weakest link – how do we involve all of the stakeholders?
Stress the need for greater collaboration between NHSs and NMSs in flood forecasting 
Look forward to the presentations and discussions from this week to futher define and refine the HWR work plan

- WMO is doing a lot in its areas of expertise
- Where should we target future initiatives?
- Any flood forecasting system is only as strong as its weakest link – how do we involve all of the stakeholders?
- Stress the need for greater collaboration between NHSs and NMSs in flood forecasting
- Look forward to the presentations and discussions from this week to futher define and refine the HWR work plan