Introduction
This event provides an overview of the World Meteorological Organization’s Hydrological Status and Outlook System (HydroSOS): A system for monitoring and predicting global freshwater hydrological conditions. HydroSOS provides a platform for assessing the current hydrological availability and providing outlooks under changing climate. Water status and outlook systems are key components of evidence-based decision-making regarding climate change adaptation. The event will feature an outline of the HydroSOS concept, progress in the project so far which includes the technical developments done during the pilot phase, and a presentation on the challenges and opportunities associated with global implementation.
Objectives
As HydroSOS enters its implementation phase, this event presents an excellent opportunity and provides a space for knowledge exchanges and the sharing of lessons learnt and practical information on how to strengthen capacity of the NHMS and agencies to implement HydroSOS on a regional level. The event has four main goals:
- Provide the insights on the Pilot phase of HydroSOS and discuss the benefits of having HydroSOS
- Discuss the technical developments done so far, shed light of the demonstrator, and the major conclusions from the pilot phase.
- Share lessons learnt and discuss new entry points and innovative approaches to improve the platform and encourage participation of the members to the project.
- Explore potential partnerships for HydroSOS
If you have missed the session watch it here.
Run of the show
Introduction and keynote speech
Why is a Global Outlook and forecasting system necessary and What has been done towards it so far
Panel discussion
How does HydroSOS help in climate adaptation
Looking at the broader picture and How is HydroSOS connected to other WMO and UN-water initiatives
Q&A
Moderators
Prof. Alan Jenkins
Deputy Director and Director of Science at UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH)
Biography
Alan Jenkins is Director of Science at the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH), the leading UK centre for environmental science across water, land and air. With a background in hydrology, he has worked nationally and internationally on acid rain, water quality, water resources and climate change impacts. He currently acts as the UK Hydrological Advisor with the World Meteorological Organisation and Chairs the UK input to the UNESCO Inter-Governmental Hydrology Programme. He is also an Honorary Professor in the Lancaster Environment Centre at the University of Lancaster and a Visiting Professor in the Department of Geography, University College London.
Johannes Cullmann
WMO, Director, Water and Cryosphere
Biography
Mr Cullmann joined the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in 2015 as the Director of the Climate and Water Department. From 1 January 2020, he is the Director for Water and Cryosphere. Mr Cullmann was Director of the IHP/HWRP division (science and international cooperation) of the German Federal Institute of Hydrology from 2007 to 2015. He was involved in formulating the Institute’s research strategy, delivering the first climate change impact analysis of German water-ways and took part in harmonising data for assessing hydrological futures for the Rhine river basin. He helped coordinating international water affairs within the German government and with international partners. From 2012 to 2014, he was President of the Intergovernmental Council of UNESCO’s water programme. In this function he has been negotiating implementation plans for UNESCO with Governments and other UN Agencies. Mr Cullmann was the German representative in the Commission for the Hydrology of the Rhine River, one of the important features of European transboundary water cooperation.
Key note speaker
Harry Dixon
Leader of the Water Resources Systems Group at the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH)
Biography
Harry leads the Water Resources Systems Group at the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH). He is a hydrologist with extensive experience of working in the UK and internationally on projects related to hydrological data and information services. Harry has an active involvement in water-related intergovernmental hydrology programmes under the UN framework and bilateral international science collaborations. Harry is a member of the WMO Hydrological Coordination Panel and an Honorary Professor at the University of Birmingham.
Panellists
Narendra Kumar Tuteja
Regional Supply and Flood Modelling Manager, WaterNSW Australia
Biography
Narendra has extensive scientific research and operational experience in the water sector in hydrological forecasting for managing droughts and floods, hydrologic design of large hydropower projects, water resources and environmental management in Australia, Europe and South Asia. He has led scientific developments and operational delivery of customer focused and economically valuable high impact water forecasting services in Australia. These services are carefully designed in partnership with water industry and research sector from inception through to design and delivery stages. He is a current member of the Hydrology Coordination Panel of World Meteorological Organization supporting planning and delivery of hydrological activities. His qualifications include a PhD and MSc in Hydrology from The National University of Ireland, and Master and Bachelor qualifications in Water Resources and Civil Engineering from India.
Ashis Kumar Mitra
Head of ‘National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting’ (NCMRWF) Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India
Biography
Dr. Ashis Kumar Mitra, is currently the Head of ‘National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting’ (NCMRWF), Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India. Dr. Mitra has 35 years of experience in Numerical Modelling for Weather /Climate, Data Assimilation, Monsoon Research and developing Applications for various sectors. He has published around 100 research papers in peer reviewed reputed journals. He has a Ph.D in Ocean Modelling from IIT Delhi. Dr. Mitra has worked as visiting scientist in FSU, USA and UKMO, UK. His current research interests are coupled modelling for S2S prediction of Monsoon, ocean-atmosphere modelling and data assimilation, gridded merged satellite gauge rainfall data preparation and model validation/ diagnostics. He is an associate editor of RMS journal QJRMS and is serving as member of several national and international committees related to weather and climate. Dr. Mitra is one of the members for WMO’s regional focal point of research for RA-II region.
José Alberto Zúñiga Mora
Coordinador C.S. Estudios Básicos de Ingeniería Regional advisor region IV
Micaela Suriano
Researcher in water resources at the National Water Institute in Argentina and assistant professor at the Buenos Aires University
Biography
Micaela Suriano is a civil engineer with an experience of eight years in water resources management related with hydrological modelling, climate and statistics. She is a water resources researcher at the National Water Institute in Argentina and an assistant professor at the Buenos Aires University. She has been participating in WMO-HydroSOS since 2018 as a part of the Current Status Assessment and Modelling Methods work group.
Arsene Mukubwa
Lake Victoria Bassin Commission Kenya
