An Overview An Overview Presented at Second Annual Mekong Flood ForumPresented at Second Annual Mekong Flood Forum

28-29 October 2003, Phnom Penh28-29 October 2003, Phnom Penh

World Meteorological OrganizationWeather Climate and Water

WATER – THE GLOBAL ISSUESWATER – THE GLOBAL ISSUES

WATER STRESS CONDITIONSWATER STRESS CONDITIONS – Increasing demand of a growing population; 6 billion now, 8 by 2025Increasing demand of a growing population; 6 billion now, 8 by 2025– Affecting one third of global population now, two thirds by 2025Affecting one third of global population now, two thirds by 2025– Impact of climate change on water resourcesImpact of climate change on water resources– Water pollutionWater pollution

FLOODSFLOODS Increasing losses due to water related disastersIncreasing losses due to water related disasters Flood plains provide tremendous advantages for human settlementsFlood plains provide tremendous advantages for human settlements

LACK OF INVESTMENT IN WATER RESOURCES ASSESSMENTLACK OF INVESTMENT IN WATER RESOURCES ASSESSMENT– Declining observational networks; lower hydromet budgetsDeclining observational networks; lower hydromet budgets

INCREASING DEMAND FOR IMPROVED WATER MANAGEMENTINCREASING DEMAND FOR IMPROVED WATER MANAGEMENT

WMO/OMM

Water Resources ManagementWater Resources ManagementThe Main ChallengesThe Main Challenges

Meeting increasing basic needsMeeting increasing basic needs

Securing food supplySecuring food supply

Sharing water resourcesSharing water resources

Managing water related risksManaging water related risks

Protecting ecosystems Protecting ecosystems

Conserving and valuing waterConserving and valuing water

Governing water wiselyGoverning water wisely

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Assessment of water resources

• provides the basis for the rational management of the vast range of activities where water is involved, and

• is a prerequisite for their sustainable development and management

For sustainable development, water policies and plans must be based on comprehensive,

reliable water data and information

Without adequate observing networks and the data from them to indicate changes and trends, the improvement of the measurements of the

components of the water cycle in terms of both quantity and quality will not materialise

At the global level, there is:

“concern that at a time when more precise and reliable information is needed about

water resources, Hydrological Services and related bodies are less able than before to

provide this information..,”.

(UNCED, 1992)

RecognizingRecognizing

The need for a system which The need for a system which could provide accurate and could provide accurate and reliable hydrological datareliable hydrological data

WMOWMOChose to address the issue by Chose to address the issue by

launching thelaunching the

WHYCOSWHYCOSprogrammeprogramme

WHYCOSWORLD HYDROLOGICAL CYCLE OBSERVING SYSTEM

An acronym for a strengthened global programme for water resources monitoring and assessment through

WHYCOS is a worldwide programme aimed at improving co-operation at river basin, regional and global levels to support the

establishment and improvement of consistent and reliable water data

information systems for the benefit of sustainable development.

WHYCOS : The underlying principle

co-operation among participating countries in the field of water

resources assessment and management.

WHYCOS : The Concept

WHYCOS is conceived as a tool for

• improving the collection, dissemination and • use of high quality, standardized and consistent

hydrological and related data at the national, river basin, regional and international levels.

It is being pursued through a basin/ regional approach,

By addressing the basin needs and requirements like • integrated management of the water resources, • flood forecasting, • water quality monitoring, etc.

WHYCOS: the ObjectivesWHYCOS: the Objectives• Building the capacity for water resources assessment at various Building the capacity for water resources assessment at various

levelslevels

• To support national and river basin water resources development To support national and river basin water resources development

projectsprojects

• Strengthen technical and institutional capabilities of Hydrological Strengthen technical and institutional capabilities of Hydrological

ServicesServices

• Promote and facilitate sharing, dissemination and use of water-Promote and facilitate sharing, dissemination and use of water-

related data informationrelated data information

• Support regional and global studies requiring water resources Support regional and global studies requiring water resources

information byinformation by

• Promoting regional and international cooperation in the collection, Promoting regional and international cooperation in the collection, transmission, processing and archiving of hydrological data and transmission, processing and archiving of hydrological data and informationinformation

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WHYCOSWHYCOSGeneral scheme of data collection and dissemination General scheme of data collection and dissemination networknetwork

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Data Collection PlatformsData Collection Platforms PM 46 PM 46

WHYCOS- componentsWHYCOS- components

MED-HYCOS

AOC-HYCOS

HIMALYAN-HYCOS

BLACK SEA-HYCOS

NIGER-HYCOS

PACIFIC-HYCOS

DANUBE-HYCOS

SADC - HYCOSSADC - HYCOS

IGAD-HYCOS

MEKONG-HYCOS

ARAL-HYCOS

AMAZON-HYCOS

CARIB-HYCOS

ARCTIC-HYCOS

CURRENT GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION OF HYCOS PROJECTS

MED-HYCOSMED-HYCOS

First phase funded under a US $ 1.7 million grant First phase funded under a US $ 1.7 million grant from the World Bankfrom the World Bank

18 participating countries on the Mediterranean rim18 participating countries on the Mediterranean rim Started in 1996Started in 1996

Coordination and technical support by PRC at IRD Coordination and technical support by PRC at IRD

(formerly ORSTOM), Montpellier(formerly ORSTOM), Montpellier

WMO/OMM

MED-HYCOSMED-HYCOS

ACHIEVEMENTSACHIEVEMENTS– Network of METEOSAT DCPsNetwork of METEOSAT DCPs– Regional Data Bank (RDB)Regional Data Bank (RDB)– Support to NHSsSupport to NHSs– MED-HYCOS Hydrological Information System (MHIS)MED-HYCOS Hydrological Information System (MHIS)– http://medhycos.mpl.ird.frhttp://medhycos.mpl.ird.fr

FUTURE ACTIVITIESFUTURE ACTIVITIES– Development of second phaseDevelopment of second phase

WMO/OMM

SADC-HYCOSSADC-HYCOS

Funded under a Euro 1.9 million grant from the Funded under a Euro 1.9 million grant from the European CommunityEuropean Community

11 participating countries11 participating countries

DWAF / RSA Pretoria designated as PRCDWAF / RSA Pretoria designated as PRC

Technical Support provided by IH/IRDTechnical Support provided by IH/IRD

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SADC-HYCOS - AchievementsSADC-HYCOS - Achievements

Siting of 50 DCPs agreed on the basis of regional Siting of 50 DCPs agreed on the basis of regional prioritiespriorities

Server for hosting the Regional Data Bank Server for hosting the Regional Data Bank installedinstalled

Data dissemination network operationalData dissemination network operational

Training courses organisedTraining courses organised

Phase II is on the verge of being startedPhase II is on the verge of being started

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AOC-HYCOS: AOC-HYCOS: Western and Central AfricaWestern and Central Africa

23 countries covered23 countries covered Project document prepared with funding of the Project document prepared with funding of the

French Co-operationFrench Co-operation Project supported at the West Africa Conference on Project supported at the West Africa Conference on

Integrated Water Management (March 1998)Integrated Water Management (March 1998) US$ 6.9 million sought for implementationUS$ 6.9 million sought for implementation France funded pilot phase of 24 months successfully France funded pilot phase of 24 months successfully

completedcompleted Second phase is being developed basin wiseSecond phase is being developed basin wise

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IGAD-HYCOSIGAD-HYCOS

Seven countries involvedSeven countries involved

Designated as a priority project by IGADDesignated as a priority project by IGAD

Project formulation funded by European Project formulation funded by European CommissionCommission

Detail Project document under finalisationDetail Project document under finalisation

WMO/OMM

Priorities set out in FMM StrategyPriorities set out in FMM Strategyof MRCof MRC

RoleRole

ElementsElements

Providing Providing Technical Technical Products and Products and ServicesServices

Addressing Addressing Differences and Differences and facilitationfacilitation

Capacity building Capacity building and Technology and Technology TransferTransfer

Land use Land use PlanningPlanning

Structural Structural MeasuresMeasures

Flood Flood PreparednessPreparedness Mekong HycosMekong Hycos Mekong HycosMekong Hycos

Emergency Emergency ResponseResponse

HighMediumLow

Shortcomings of the present Shortcomings of the present systemsystem

Inadequacy of hydrological networkInadequacy of hydrological network Outdated technology and ageing equipmentOutdated technology and ageing equipment Insufficient or insufficiently qualified staffInsufficient or insufficiently qualified staff Lack of adequate budget for operating the Lack of adequate budget for operating the

networksnetworks Delay and deficiencies in making the information Delay and deficiencies in making the information

available to the end usersavailable to the end users Lack of regional integration in providing water Lack of regional integration in providing water

resources informationresources information Remoteness of stationsRemoteness of stations

WMO and Mekong River Commission have WMO and Mekong River Commission have signed an MOU which among others provides signed an MOU which among others provides

for for

« « Establishment of a HYCOS as Establishment of a HYCOS as complimentary to the existing complimentary to the existing

Hydrometeorological NetworkHydrometeorological Network » »

Mekong HYCOS: Mekong HYCOS: ObjectivesObjectives

National Hydrological Services of MRC National Hydrological Services of MRC Member countries and the MRCS have Member countries and the MRCS have sufficient capacity to provide timely and sufficient capacity to provide timely and accurate river monitoring and forecasting accurate river monitoring and forecasting services within the context of the MRC services within the context of the MRC Flood Management Strategy by Flood Management Strategy by establishing:establishing:

National Hydrological Network of national significance National Hydrological Network of national significance with regional implications to provide timely forecasting with regional implications to provide timely forecasting

Have the capacity of real time transmission of data Have the capacity of real time transmission of data and information and areand information and are

Capable of providing data and information for their Capable of providing data and information for their territoriesterritories

It would complement activities of MRC with respect to It would complement activities of MRC with respect to other initiatives for improvement of Hydrological other initiatives for improvement of Hydrological Network Network

Mekong HYCOS:Mekong HYCOS:Expected DeliverablesExpected Deliverables

Extension and upgrading of hydro-meteorological network Extension and upgrading of hydro-meteorological network with real-time data transmissionwith real-time data transmission

Improved data qualityImproved data quality Development of a Hydrological Information SystemDevelopment of a Hydrological Information System Integration of weather and climate information related to Integration of weather and climate information related to

forecastingforecasting Improvement of flood forecasting systemsImprovement of flood forecasting systems Institutional capacity building in member countriesInstitutional capacity building in member countries Improved coordination among various agenciesImproved coordination among various agencies Improved data and information exchange Improved data and information exchange Greater technical and regional cooperationGreater technical and regional cooperation Improved dissemination of flood forecasts at all levelsImproved dissemination of flood forecasts at all levels Better disaster preparednessBetter disaster preparedness

Mekong HYCOS:Mekong HYCOS:Likely BeneficiariesLikely Beneficiaries

Population effected by floods in the Mekong Population effected by floods in the Mekong BasinBasin

District and Community organisationsDistrict and Community organisations Ministries and line agencies of Mekong Basin Ministries and line agencies of Mekong Basin

CountriesCountries International Organisations with interest in International Organisations with interest in

Disaster managementDisaster management NGOs associated with flood mitigation and NGOs associated with flood mitigation and

disaster managementdisaster management

Mekong HYCOS: Mekong HYCOS: Principal Principal PartnersPartners

National Meteorological and National National Meteorological and National Hydrological ServicesHydrological Services

Mekong River CommissionMekong River Commission World Meteorological OrganisationWorld Meteorological Organisation Typhoon Committee (ESCAP/WMO)Typhoon Committee (ESCAP/WMO) NOAA, USGS,…..NOAA, USGS,….. Present MRC funding partners and donorsPresent MRC funding partners and donors Universities and training institutions of MRC Universities and training institutions of MRC

Member countriesMember countries

Resolution 40 (Cg-XII, 1995) - Resolution 40 (Cg-XII, 1995) - WMO Policy and WMO Policy and Practice for the Exchange of Meteorological and Practice for the Exchange of Meteorological and Related Data and Products.Related Data and Products.

Resolution 25 (Cg-XIII, 1999) - Resolution 25 (Cg-XIII, 1999) - Exchange of Exchange of Hydrological Data and ProductsHydrological Data and Products

Encourages international exchange of Encourages international exchange of hydrological data and products. hydrological data and products.

International Framework for Exchange of International Framework for Exchange of Meteorological and Hydrological DataMeteorological and Hydrological Data

International Framework for Exchange of International Framework for Exchange of Meteorological and Hydrological DataMeteorological and Hydrological Data

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Data ExchangeData Exchange

Is provided for within the Agreement on the cooperation for Is provided for within the Agreement on the cooperation for

the Sustainable development of the Mekong River Basinthe Sustainable development of the Mekong River Basin

National sovereignty over data and information is National sovereignty over data and information is

maintainedmaintained

Agreement to share data and information within HYCOS Agreement to share data and information within HYCOS

projectproject

Access to data using Internet and other data transmission Access to data using Internet and other data transmission

technologies using defined protocolstechnologies using defined protocols

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Conclusion

WHYCOS is helping in fulfilling the need for data and information in support of integrated water resources

management and sustainable development

And

Mekong HYCOS will help address the flood issues and water resources management in the

region

Thank youThank you