Transcript SWWRP Template PR - WHYCOS Portal (@ WMO)

Forecasting in the USA
• The National Weather Service River Forecast System
(NWSRFS), developed since the 1970s, has been the heart of
the NWS hydrologic forecasting system.
• NWSRFS was optimized for the computers of that era, which
were slow and had very little storage. NWSRFS is very fast and
the disk storage very compact.
• But it is based on 1970s computer science languages and
concepts, which makes it very difficult to maintain.
• NWS adopted Deltares (formerly Delft Hydraulics Lab) Flood
Early Warning System (FEWS), as its basis for the Community
Hydrologic Prediction System (CHPS), to allow a flexible
environment for operations, the ability to introduce research
performed by third parties into NWS operations in a
straightforward manner, and facilitate researchers worldwide
easy access to NWS observational databases.
United States of America
SAP Workshop for WMO FFI
8 Dec 2009, Genève
CHPS Characteristics
• Uses gridded environmental forcings.
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Precipitation.
Temperature.
Freezing level.
Potential evapotranspiration.
• Uses a sequence of models.
– Many components have been migrated
from NWSRFS.
– HEC-ResSim added for reservoir
operation simulation.
– HEC-RAS added for hydraulic routing.
• Supports ensemble simulations.
• Provides a variety of notification options.
Example Ensemble Forecast
United States of America
SAP Workshop for WMO FFI
8 Dec 2009, Genève
WIS-WIGOS
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The United States collectively with other RA-IV Members have
identified WIS and WIGOS as key priorities for the Region.
The RA-IV Management Group set up a Task Team to coordinate
implementation activities for WIS and WIGOS.
RA-IV WIGOS implementation will cover the full range of observation
requirements but will place priority on exchange of RADAR data early
in the process of implementation recognizing that RADAR data
supports tropical cyclone and hydrological forecasting including flash
flood and storm surge.
Within RA-IV, NOAA/NWS has begun development of a WIS
Discovery, Access and Retrieval (DAR) service that will be a part of a
Washington Global Information System Center (GISC), a central WIS
hub.
RA-IV Members will provide information through other WIS data
centers within the Region to meet collective requirements including
those for Flash Flood Forecasting.
United States of America
SAP Workshop for WMO FFI
8 Dec 2009, Genève
Multi-Hazard Warning
• The Global Flash-Flood Guidance System
is a project with WMO to assist countries
in issuing effective warnings.
• Meteorological data is used in
combination with a soil moisture model to
predict runoff potential.
• The system provides data and information
to NMH Services to develop flash flood
alerts and warnings.
• Under this project, system
implementations are planned for Southern
Africa and the Black Sea/Middle East
regions.
Example FFG System Products
United States of America
SAP Workshop for WMO FFI
8 Dec 2009, Genève
Capacity Building
• Capacity building is a cross-cutting
theme that involves all mission areas
relevant to weather, water, and climate
forecasts and warnings.
• Promotes the establishment of
observing networks which leads to
collaboration through data sharing.
• Establishes centers to collect, process,
and share data.
• Promotes standardization in observing
equipment, data formats, forecasting
methods, and service delivery.
• Encourages new research and training
in hydrometeorology to assist in the
international collaboration.
United States of America
SAP Workshop for WMO FFI
Ethiopia, 2007
Kenya, 2007
8 Dec 2009, Genève