Hydrometeorological data resources and technologies for effective flash flood forecasting

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Description

Better understanding of stream and landscape response to flash flood-generating storms is critical to improve effectiveness of forecasts and warning. However, flash floods are locally rare and poorly-observed events. Therefore, the only way to improve our knowledge of these phenomena is to lead the investigation at the European scale with a common strategy. This call for the organization and analysis of the existing patrimony of data concerning past European flash flood events and for the development and harmonization of an innovative European observational strategy. Therefore, HYDRATE has the objective to improve the scientific basis of flash flood forecasting, through: * Analysis of past flash flood events at the European scale; * Advancing and harmonising across Europe a common flash flood observation strategy; * Developing and validating a coherent set of technologies and tools for effective early warning system. To this end, the project includes actions on the organization of the existing flash flood data patrimony across Europe. The observation strategy proposed in HYDRATE has the objective to collect flash flood data by combining hydrometeorological monitoring and the acquisition of complementary information from post-event surveys. This involved a network of existing Hydrometeorological Observatories; all placed in high flash flood potential regions. HYDRATE developed a freely-accessible European Flash Flood Database to make available the collected hydrometeorological data to the international research community. The final aim of HYDRATE wass to enhance the capability of flash flood forecasting in ungauged basins by exploiting the extended availability of flash flood data and the improved process understanding.

Project information

Lead

University of Padova (IT) Mr. Borga Marco

Partners

Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR) Consiglio Nazionale dell University of Padova (IT); Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR); Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (IT); Vienna University of Technology (AU); Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées (FR); Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (SP); Technical University of Crete (GR); Hellenic Center Marine Research (GR); Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava (SLO); National Meteorological Administration (RO); National Institute of Hydrology and Water Management (RO); HR Wallingford (UK); Wageningen University (NL); Centre National du Machinisme Agricole, du Génie rural, des Eaux et Forêts (FR); Wuhan University (CN); University of Natal (ZA); University of Wyoming (USA)