[1] This paper demonstrates the potential of combining observed river discharge information with climate-driven water balance model (WBM) outputs to develop composite runoff fields. Such combined runoff fields simultaneously reflect the numerical accuracy of the discharge measurements and preserve the spatial and temporal distribution of simulated runoff. Selected gauging stations from the World Meteorological Organization Global Runoff Data Centre (GRDC) data archive were geographically coregistered to a gridded simulated topological network at 30 0 (longitude  latitude) spatial resolution (STN-30p). Interstation regions between gauging stations along the STN-30p network were identified, and annual interstation runoff was calculated. The annual interstation runoff was compared with outputs from WBM calculations, which were performed using long-term mean monthly climate forcings (air temperature and precipitation). The simulated runoff for each cell was multiplied by the ratio of observed to simulated runoff of the corresponding interstation region from the GRDC data set to create spatially distributed runoff fields at 30 0 resolution. The resulting composite runoff fields (UNH/GRDC Composite Runoff Fields V1.0) are released to the scientific community along with intermediate data sets, such as station attributes and long-term monthly regimes of the selected gauging stations, the simulated topological network (STN-30p), STN-30p derived attributes for the selected stations, and gridded fields of the interstation regions along STN-30p. These data sets represent high-resolution fields that are of value to a broad range of water-related research, including terrestrial modeling, climate-atmosphere interactions, and global water resource assessments.

No abstract

Water science finds itself at an interesting and critical crossroads. Sophisticated atmospheric modeling, remote sensing, and Internet‐based exchange of data enable exciting new synergies to develop among scientists, policy‐makers, and the private sector. Paradoxically we find it evermore difficult to validate products from these high‐technology tools and to exploit their full potential due to a severe and sustained decline in available hydrologic data sets.

No abstract

While there have been a number of international initiatives centred around hydrological sciences and technical approaches, the social, economic, environmental, and legal and institutional aspects of flood management have been dealt with sporadically and in a limited manner. WMO and the Global Water Partnership have established the Associated Programme on Flood Management (APFM) to address these issues and developed a concept of Integrated Flood Management (IFM) in 2002. This article is the result of the integrated flood management approaches through pilot projects and multi-disciplinary approaches launched by the initiative since the establishment of the IFM concept. This approach seeks to integrate land- and water-resources development in a river basin, within the context of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) and aims at maximizing the benefits from floodplains and at the same time reducing loss of life from flooding. This approach identified the key elements of IFM and recommended that these can be put in place by: adopting a basin approach to flood management; adopting a multi-disciplinary approach in flood management; reducing vulnerability to and risks from flooding; enabling community participation; and preserving ecosystems; and addressing climate change and variability, supported by enabling mechanism through appropriate legislation and regulations.

Rapid advances in communication technology are making access to information faster, more reliable, and cheaper. At the same time, hydrological and meteorological monitoring technologies continue to improve significantly. These technological advances can be exploited to promote regional cooperation for flood risk reduction in the Hindu Kush Himalayas by providing an end-to-end flood information system. The system will function as a decision support tool for decision makers to alert vulnerable communities in a timely and accurate manner. This article provides an example of how regional cooperation has been achieved and is being promoted in the Hindu Kush Himalayas through the development of a regional flood information system.

The past decade has seen the development and overall acceptance of the concept of Integrated Flood Risk Management. This approach strives to balance positive and negative effects of riverine floods and combines it with risk management concepts. In practice, this has led to a diversification of flood management practices that go beyond traditional structural flood protection measures towards non-structural measures. These include giving more space for rivers, backwards location of dykes, re-naturalisation of flood plains and a suite of improved information systems including improved flood forecasting services, promoting flood risk awareness and self-help capabilities. The paper describes in some detail the process of benchmarking to support effective planning, implementation and monitoring of integrated flood risk management activities that require a set of quantifiable measures, against which progress in flood risk management can be referenced.

This paper describes methods and processes to link policy development to the implementation of those policies in actionable implementation plans. It is shown that policies can only be implemented effectively if they are embedded in a legal framework that is designed to facilitate achievement of the policy objectives. The paper shows different levels of policy making and decision support for the development of policies at different levels, ranging from the level of Federal States in Germany to policy development and implementation at the European level as part of the European Framework Directive. Using the Elbe River as a case study, the paper shows the need to anchor regional, transboundary and state level policies to mandated national institutions. A key lesson learnt from the Elbe River Basin is that policy integration is of utmost importance. The paper also demonstrates that a balance needs to be reached with regard to structural and nonstructural measures in flood risk management to arrive at a truly integrated flood risk management strategy and its implementation. The development of research policies on the basis of sound science is indispensable in support of policy development and its implementation.