Question 1: What are the major external changes and dynamics that demand a response by the National Hydrological Services and the hydrological community of WMO?

55 Replies to “Question 1: What are the major external changes and dynamics that demand a response by the National Hydrological Services and the hydrological community of WMO?”

1. The social demand of available and easily understandable information for the general public
   The use of the modern communication devices, software and hardware, including social networks, smartphones…
   Making available and being able to disseminate properly hydrological information (a key part in risk management) in different fora (general public, civil protection authorities , etc..)

2. Beside the manifold ongoing hydrological changes (Climate Change, increase of flood risk by changing land uses, increased demand for hydrological data and information by intensified utilisations of water, new data requirements, often caused by political decisions e.g. with regard to renewable energy, ecological aspects or changing water policies), the National Hydrological Services are challenged by a revolution of hydrological technologies. In the last two decades mechanical instruments were replaced by a new generation of digital sensors and loggers. The utilization of these technologies requires their support by an Information and Communication Technology, which is appropriated in quantitative and qualitative terms to this new sensors but also to user needs. The best way to cope with this problem would be a complete technical replacement of observation networks and adaption of ITC to this new technical base. This was done in developed countries, but is not an option for developing countries. Here new and old technologies will exists in parallel. This requires additional human capacities, which are able to manage new technologies but to ensure also the functionality of parallel existing stations.

3. National hydrological services and WMO hydrological community can support by helping to densify network of measuring rain and flow, also by funding small projects that help local population to mitigate water related problems (floods, drought, and drinkable water availability)

4. The major external changes and dynamics that demand a response by the National Hydrological Services and the hydrological community of WMO are the awareness of the Hydrological issues to the affected communities. A lot of work has been done to solve Hydrological problems but not much attention has been paid to ensure the awareness of the community is in place. Communities need to have been made aware of the work which is being done to solve Hydrological problems.

5. In Senegal, as everywhere in the CILSS countries, the main changes and external dynamics that require a response from the National Hydrological Services are climate change. Indeed, climatic dynamics inevitably impact on the availability of water resources (rising temperature thus increasing the evaporative power of the air, sudden precipitations causing flash floods and floods, etc.). These phenomena still require a local and regional response today.

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