Scientific, technological and organisational obstacles facing hydrology Dr Kate Heal School of GeoSciences University of Edinburgh

World water crisis > 40% world population living in water-scarce regions by million deaths from water-related diseases each year > 1 billion people continue to lack access to safe drinking water and ~ 3 billion lack adequate sanitation UN Water Decade

The role of Hydrology? Hydrology can address these problems: BUT often overlooked To progress in hydrology need to identify obstacles to be overcome: 1.Scientific 2.Practical/technological 3.Organisational capacity & communication

IAHS Hydrology 2020 Working Group Group of 11”young” hydrologists” Identify possible and recommended directions for hydrology over the next 20 years Report in 2005 Caterina Valeo Susan Hubbard Johan Kuylenstierna

Scientific obstacles (1) Incomplete understanding of hydrological processes and links with atmosphere/biosphere –Especially vadose zone flowing dry River Darent, Kent The State of England’s Chalk Rivers, Environment Agency, 2004

Scientific obstacles (2) Data integration/scaling issues: –Scale-dependence of properties and processes –Integrating data collected at different spatial scales –Incorporating indirect data –Routine quantification of uncertainty associated with parameter estimates

Quinn et al. (2004), Scales in Hydrology and Water Management, IAHS Publ. 287, pp.17-38

Scientific obstacles (3) Inability to predict hydrological processes and interactions –Incomplete theory and data –Inadequate mathematical description of complex process interactions –Practical methods for calibration and assessing reliability not available –Uncertainty assessment overlooked

Practical/technological obstacles (1) Access to data: Free Quick and easy Long-term commitment to establishing and maintaining monitoring networks

Practical/technological obstacles (2) Worldwide water resources database: Surface and groundwater Capacity, water balances, runoff controls GCOS (Global Climate Observing System), Feb 2005, Analysis of data exchange problems in global atmospheric and hydrological networks

Practical/technological obstacles (3) Measurement technology: Cheap, small, automated, smart real-time sensors Satellite sensors with hydrological applications as primary goal lacking Calibration/evaluation standards for most monitoring tools lacking Tools not widely available

Practical/technological obstacles (4) Treadle pump, Sri Lanka Technologies for developing countries: Small-scale technologies and approaches for dealing with water supply and sanitation issues lacking Technology transfer Minimal funds required but global commitment lacking

Organisational capacity and communications obstacles Science poorly integrated into decision-making Poor communication with decision makers Inadequate management of water resources: –Forecasting dynamic interactions between environmental, economic, social and cultural processes –Natural boundaries –All stakeholders –Short- and long-term planning Lack of international coordinating body Hydrological education too fragmented Capacity building in developing countries weak

HMW improve predictive capabilities of hydrological processes/parameters? Improve current validation & comparison efforts Reanalyse existing data Improve data archiving Appreciate data archiving as research contribution Guidelines for collecting & archiving hydrological data Data access on web Identify factors affecting processes Characterise properties Understand interactions between coupled systems Natural vs observable scale Understand scales of phenomena Get more funds Develop nested experiments Define constraints so that tools are practical & inexpensive Define criteria for scale of observations Improve tools for observing appropriate scales Identify appropriate tools for appropriate scales

HMW improve database support for hydrological applications? Data reuse Assess current databases Train database specialists in hydrology Provide resources to developing countries Increase hydrological networks; use novel technologies to reduce costs Identify most practical ways to fill gaps Identify gaps Good pilot cases Demonstrate need & value of data to governing organisations Demonstrate problems in current prediction abilities Single organising body Make existing databases accessible & inexpensive Need cooperation from those with money & data Define metadata categories Demonstrate value of data sharing Single data repository Develop mechanisms that allow people to provide data Create better interfaces & visual tools

HMW better integrate hydrological science into the decision-making process? Demonstrate that cooperation is mutually beneficial Train hydrologists in socio-economic perspective Increase funding for projects that address socio- economic aspects Link knowledge to relevant issues Demonstrate value of hydrologists’ knowledge Get hydrologists involved in public debate Increase communication with DMs Programmes that require hydrologists and DMs to work more closely Strengthen technology transfer mechanisms Cooperating clusters Hydrology groups advise DM Hydrologists conduct DM Educate those involved in developing academic assessment metrics Change research assessment process & value of doing work that affects DM Educate hydrologists on the DM process Develop incentives for scientists Get scientists involved in DM

Recommendations Global water secretariat Global hydrological database More effort to communicate with decision makers Increased efforts to collaborate with other scientific disciplines Increased efforts in education and capacity building, especially in developing countries

“One role of the sciences should be to provide information to better enable formulation and selection of environment and development policies in the decision-making process. In order to fulfil this requirement, it will be essential to enhance scientific understanding, improve long-term scientific assessments, strengthen scientific capacities in all countries and ensure that the sciences are responsive to emerging needs” Chapter 35 of Agenda 21, United Nations 1992