An Overview Presented at Second Annual Mekong Flood Forum 28-29 October 2003, Phnom Penh

1. World Meteorological Organization Weather Climate and Water WHYCOS An Overview Presented at Second Annual Mekong Flood Forum 28-29 October 2003, Phnom Penh

2. WATER – THE GLOBAL ISSUES • WATER STRESS CONDITIONS • Increasing demand of a growing population; 6 billion now, 8 by 2025 • Affecting one third of global population now, two thirds by 2025 • Impact of climate change on water resources • Water pollution • FLOODS • Increasing losses due to water related disasters • Flood plains provide tremendous advantages for human settlements • LACK OF INVESTMENT IN WATER RESOURCES ASSESSMENT • Declining observational networks; lower hydromet budgets • INCREASING DEMAND FOR IMPROVED WATER MANAGEMENT WMO/OMM

3. Water Resources ManagementThe Main Challenges • Meeting increasing basic needs • Securing food supply • Sharing water resources • Managing water related risks • Protecting ecosystems • Conserving and valuing water • Governing water wisely WMO/OMM

4. 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

5. For sustainable development, water policies and plans must be based on comprehensive, reliable water dataand information Without adequate observing networksand the data from them to indicate changes and trends, the improvement of the measurements of the components of the water cyclein terms of both quantity and qualitywill not materialise

6. 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)

7. Recognizing The need for a system which could provide accurate and reliable hydrological data WMO Chose to address the issue by launching the WHYCOS programme

8. 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 WORLD HYDROLOGICAL CYCLE OBSERVING SYSTEM An acronym for a strengthened global programme for water resources monitoring and assessment through

9. WHYCOS : The underlying principle co-operation among participating countries in the field of water resources assessment and management.

10. 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 Concept

11. WHYCOS: the Objectives • Building the capacity for water resources assessment at various levels • To support national and river basin water resources development projects • Strengthen technical and institutional capabilities of Hydrological Services • Promote and facilitate sharing, dissemination and use of water-related data information • Support regional and global studies requiring water resources information by • Promoting regional and international cooperation in the collection, transmission, processing and archiving of hydrological data and information WMO/OMM

12. WHYCOSGeneral scheme of data collection and dissemination network WMO/OMM

13. Data Collection Platforms PM 46

14. WHYCOS- components • MED-HYCOS • AOC-HYCOS • HIMALYAN-HYCOS • BLACK SEA-HYCOS • NIGER-HYCOS • PACIFIC-HYCOS • DANUBE-HYCOS • SADC - HYCOS • IGAD-HYCOS • MEKONG-HYCOS • ARAL-HYCOS • AMAZON-HYCOS • CARIB-HYCOS • ARCTIC-HYCOS

15. CURRENT GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION OF HYCOS PROJECTS

16. MED-HYCOS • First phase funded under a US $ 1.7 million grant from the World Bank • 18 participating countries on the Mediterranean rim • Started in 1996 • Coordination and technical support by PRC at IRD (formerly ORSTOM), Montpellier WMO/OMM

17. MED-HYCOS • ACHIEVEMENTS • Network of METEOSAT DCPs • Regional Data Bank (RDB) • Support to NHSs • MED-HYCOS Hydrological Information System (MHIS) • http://medhycos.mpl.ird.fr • FUTURE ACTIVITIES • Development of second phase WMO/OMM

19. SADC-HYCOS • Funded under a Euro 1.9 million grant from the European Community • 11 participating countries • DWAF / RSA Pretoria designated as PRC • Technical Support provided by IH/IRD WMO/OMM

20. SADC-HYCOS - Achievements • Siting of 50 DCPs agreed on the basis of regional priorities • Server for hosting the Regional Data Bank installed • Data dissemination network operational • Training courses organised • Phase II is on the verge of being started WMO/OMM

21. AOC-HYCOS: Western and Central Africa • 23 countries covered • Project document prepared with funding of the French Co-operation • Project supported at the West Africa Conference on Integrated Water Management (March 1998) • US$ 6.9 million sought for implementation • France funded pilot phase of 24 months successfully completed • Second phase is being developed basin wise WMO/OMM

22. IGAD-HYCOS • Seven countries involved • Designated as a priority project by IGAD • Project formulation funded by European Commission • Detail Project document under finalisation WMO/OMM

23. Priorities set out in FMM Strategyof MRC High Medium Low

24. Shortcomings of the present system • Inadequacy of hydrological network • Outdated technology and ageing equipment • Insufficient or insufficiently qualified staff • Lack of adequate budget for operating the networks • Delay and deficiencies in making the information available to the end users • Lack of regional integration in providing water resources information • Remoteness of stations

25. WMO and Mekong River Commission have signed an MOU which among others provides for « Establishment of a HYCOS as complimentary to the existing Hydrometeorological Network »

26. Mekong HYCOS: Objectives National Hydrological Services of MRC Member countries and the MRCS have sufficient capacity to provide timely and accurate river monitoring and forecasting services within the context of the MRC Flood Management Strategy by establishing: • National Hydrological Network of national significance with regional implications to provide timely forecasting • Have the capacity of real time transmission of data and information and are • Capable of providing data and information for their territories • It would complement activities of MRC with respect to other initiatives for improvement of Hydrological Network

27. Mekong HYCOS:Expected Deliverables • Extension and upgrading of hydro-meteorological network with real-time data transmission • Improved data quality • Development of a Hydrological Information System • Integration of weather and climate information related to forecasting • Improvement of flood forecasting systems • Institutional capacity building in member countries • Improved coordination among various agencies • Improved data and information exchange • Greater technical and regional cooperation • Improved dissemination of flood forecasts at all levels • Better disaster preparedness

28. Mekong HYCOS:Likely Beneficiaries • Population effected by floods in the Mekong Basin • District and Community organisations • Ministries and line agencies of Mekong Basin Countries • International Organisations with interest in Disaster management • NGOs associated with flood mitigation and disaster management

29. Mekong HYCOS: Principal Partners • National Meteorological and National Hydrological Services • Mekong River Commission • World Meteorological Organisation • Typhoon Committee (ESCAP/WMO) • NOAA, USGS,….. • Present MRC funding partners and donors • Universities and training institutions of MRC Member countries

30. International Framework for Exchange of Meteorological and Hydrological Data • Resolution 40 (Cg-XII, 1995) - WMO Policy and Practice for the Exchange of Meteorological and Related Data and Products. • Resolution 25 (Cg-XIII, 1999) - Exchange of Hydrological Data and Products • Encourages international exchange of hydrological data and products. WMO/OMM

31. Data Exchange • Is provided for within the Agreement on the cooperation for the Sustainable development of the Mekong River Basin • National sovereignty over data and information is maintained • Agreement to share data and information within HYCOS project • Access to data using Internet and other data transmission technologies using defined protocols WMO/OMM

32. 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

33. Thank you