Report of the President Harry F. Lins President, WMO Commission for Hydrology WMO; CWD; CHy

CHy’s Fourteenth Intersessional Period Unusually eventful and productive Greater CHy involvement in WMO priorities New opportunities have arisen that enable dramatically improved capabilities and services to Members. Align closely with the WMO strategic priorities for the current financial period.

Fourteenth Session of CHy (6-14 Nov 2012) Adopted five priority areas: QMF-Hydrology Data operations and management Water resources assessment Hydrological forecasting and prediction Water, climate and risk assessment Accomplishments have significantly exceeded what was requested by CHy-14. Details in subsequent sections of agenda. Success largely result of outstanding AWG.

Remainder of Report Focuses on three topics CHy response to Cg, EC and PTC Rationale for AWG’s recommendations CHy response to emerging challenges Accomplishments have significantly exceeded what was requested by CHy-14. Details in subsequent sections of agenda. Success largely result of outstanding AWG.

CHy Response to Cg, EC, and PTC QMF-Hydrology WIGOS and WIS Implementation Activities aimed at ensuring data quality; Project to assess performance and uncertainty of flow measurement instruments and techniques; Production of guidance material and training. Data operations and management Accomplishments have significantly exceeded what was requested by CHy-14. Details in subsequent sections of agenda. Success largely result of outstanding AWG. WHOS WaterML 2.0.

CHy Response to Cg, EC, and PTC Hydrological forecasting and prediction Projects include best practices for FF; Guidance material available to NMHSs, Donors, NGO; Training materials for E2E systems for FF; Ensure access to guidance/training via IFM HelpDesk Water Resources Assessment Draft Manual on Water Resources Assessment (2017) Proposed Global Hydrological Status/Outlook System Disaster Risk Reduction FFI-AG - two meetings; workplan has 4 tasks:

CHy Response to Cg, EC, and PTC Global Framework for Climate Services 5 Pillars: Capacity Development; Research, Modeling and Prediction; Observations and Monitoring; Climate Services Information System User Interface Platform Significantly: All of our thematic areas and supporting activities support one or more GFCS Pillar; particularly Seasonal Hydrological Prediction; WHOS, GHSF, FFI, WHYCOS, APFM, IDMP.

Rationale for AWG Recommendations to CHy-15 Large burden placed on AWG members to represent CHy on teams and panels (many EC), which dramatically increased member workload. WMO These demands are likely to continue in next period. AWG-3 discussed how to be most effective in meeting such demands, including current structure of CHy. Concluded it’s generally effective, but inefficient, particularly in how thematic activities were assigned to AWG members, as well as overlapping OPACHES.

Rationale for AWG Recommendations to CHy-15 AWG recommended maintaining it’s current size, and merging the four existing OPACHES into one. WMO AWG recommended maintaining it’s current size, and merging the four existing OPACHES into one and be updated regularly. Proposed organizing under three generic themes as follows . . . .

WMO Also, strongly recommended CHy-15 limit the AWG workload assigned to each of these three groups

WMO

SDG goal to ensure access to clean water & sanitation Emerging Challenges SDG goal to ensure access to clean water & sanitation Although none focus on monitoring, most implicitly require it. WMO You can’t manage what you don’t monitor . . . NHSs are, therefore, essential to water management Groundwater is enormous contributor NHSs should forge relationships with agencies that monitor GW Regarding GFCS and climate-related water problems CHy should promote essential value of hydrological services

Cg-17 discussed issue of Big Data Emerging Challenges Cg-17 discussed issue of Big Data Challenges linked to quality assurance, search, storage, etc. Many Met Services has considerable experience with this issue. Many now looking into Crowd Sourced data (i.e., non-standard or non-traditional monitoring. CHy should approach with caution, but new GHSF “Innovation Hub” affords chance to play leadership role in developing and testing sensors that are inexpensive, easy to deploy and operate. WMO

WMO should expand role in UN-Water Emerging Challenges WMO should expand role in UN-Water To ensure better management of WR for sustainable development, DRR, and economic development. WMO is seeking to become more efficient and effective in all aspects of its business WMO CHy has responded by reducing the length of its sessions; This has significantly reduced time available for discussion; CHy has addressed this with Pre-Session Discussion; Third time’s a charm . . . extremely substantive input . . . numerous individual contributors . . . Lessons learned will likely have major impact on future sessions of EC and Congress.

Thank you for your attention Harry F. Lins President, Commission for Hydrology +1-571-218-5077 chy.president@gmail.com