RA VI Hydrological Advisers Forum
The RA VI Hydrological Advisers Forum, held virtually on 10 December 2024, addressed updates on hydrological milestones, initiatives, and future activities. The forum, established in 2020 and formalized during the 19th session of RA VI in October 2024, aims to promote collaboration, consultation, and feedback among stakeholders.
The forum was attended by 37 participants, including hydrological advisers from 22 RA VI member states and 15 WMO Secretariat officers. Presentations were made by Angela Corina (RA VI Hydrological Adviser and Co-Vice President of WMO SERCOM), Johanna Korhonen (Scientific Officer, WMO Infrastructure Department), Natalia Berghi (Programme Officer, WMO Regional Office for Europe), and Marius Matreata (Leader of the RA VI HydroSOS Task Team).
Angela Corina began by discussing outcomes from the Services Commission's third session and the Standing Committee on Hydrological Services. She highlighted the re-establishment of hydrological bodies such as Standing Committee on Hydrological Services (SC-HYD), Joint Expert Team on Cryosphere related Services and Flood Forecasting Initiative Advisory Group, and shared milestones from SC-HYD-3. Progress was noted on guidelines for impact-based hydrological forecasting, focusing on floods and droughts, with completion expected by 2027. She emphasized the need for data sharing and collaboration to enhance early warning systems and called on members to contribute case studies to these initiatives.
Johanna Korhonen provided updates from INFCOM-3, which took place in April 2024. She explained that INFCOM does not have a dedicated standing committee for hydrology but integrates hydrology across all its committees. She mentioned the establishment of a new Advisory Group on Hydrology and updates on related task teams. Significant developments included technical guidance for modernizing hydrological networks, progress on hydrological data centers incorporating new variables like soil moisture, and advocacy for improved data-sharing policies. She also highlighted pilot projects, such as global riverine flood prediction under the "Early Warning for All" initiative.
Natalia Berghi and Marius Matreata focused on regional hydrological activities within RA VI. Natalia elaborated on decisions made during the 19th session of RA VI, including the formation of a Coordination Panel on Hydrology and formalization of the Regional Hydrological Fora. Updates were shared by Marius on the HydroSOS Task Team, with additional progress anticipated in 2025.
Angela Corina outlined future events, including an extra SERCOM session in March 2025 and an extra Congress in October 2025. She noted that the next Regional Hydrological Forum is tentatively scheduled for mid-February 2025, with a focus on HydroSOS.
Participants were surveyed for their feedback on the forum’s format and content. Most favored forums being held twice a year with a session length of two hours to allow information exchange and discussions. Suggestions included sharing materials in advance, organizing workshops as separate events, and providing clear explanations of hydrology programs and acronyms.
Key actions emphasized included:
- Contributing to case studies for impact-based forecasting and the Common Alerting Protocol.
- Volunteering for OSCAR/Surface metadata testing.
- Enhancing member engagement in hydrology-related activities at both regional and global levels.
The forum concluded with plans for the next session in February 2025, focusing on advancing the HydroSOS initiative.