Citizen observations contributing to flood modelling: opportunities and challenges Hydrology and Earth System Sciences DOI 10.5194/hess-22-1473-2018 28 February 2018 Citizens can contribute to science by providing data, analysing them and as such contributing to decision-making processes. For example, citizens have collected water levels from gauges, which are important when simulating/forecasting floods, where data are usually scarce. This study reviewed such contributions and concluded that integration of citizen data may not be easy due to their spatio-temporal characteristics but that citizen data still proved valuable and can be used in flood modelling. Read more
Minimum forest cover required for sustainable water flow regulation of a watershed: a case study in Jambi Province, Indonesia Hydrology and Earth System Sciences DOI 10.5194/hess-22-581-2018 24 January 2018 This study is the first to describe the quantitative association between forest and plantation areas and the flow indicators (surface runoff and baseflow) in a watershed; this understanding is required by spatial planners if they are to balance the ecology and socioeconomic functions of a landscape with the rapid expansion of plantation crops. In addition, our study provides data regarding how SWAT input parameters related to tropical plantations such as oil palm and rubber should be adjusted. Read more
Can riparian vegetation shade mitigate the expected rise in stream temperatures due to climate change during heat waves in a human-impacted pre-alpine river? Hydrology and Earth System Sciences DOI 10.5194/hess-22-437-2018 18 January 2018 In eastern Austria, where air temperature rise is double that recorded globally, stream temperatures of a human-impacted river were simulated during heat waves, as calculated by regional climate models until 2100. An increase of up to 3 °C was predicted – thus exceeding thresholds of resident cold-adapted species. Vegetation management scenarios showed that adding vegetation can reduce both absolute temperatures and its rate of increase but is not able to fully mitigate the expected rise. Read more
The potamochemical symphony: new progress in the high-frequency acquisition of stream chemical data Hydrology and Earth System Sciences DOI 10.5194/hess-21-6153-2017 7 December 2017 We present a new prototypelab in the fieldnamed River Lab (RL) designed for water quality monitoring to perform a complete analysis at sub-hourly frequency of major dissolved species in river water. The article is an analytical paper to present the proof of concept, its performances and improvements. Our tests reveal a significant improvement of reproducibility compared to conventional analysis in the laboratory. First results are promising for understanding the critical zone. Read more
The CAMELS data set: catchment attributes and meteorology for large-sample studies Hydrology and Earth System Sciences DOI 10.5194/hess-21-5293-2017 20 October 2017 We introduce a data set describing the landscape of 671 catchments in the contiguous USA: we synthesized various data sources to characterize the topography, climate, streamflow, land cover, soil, and geology of each catchment. This extends the daily time series of meteorological forcing and discharge provided by an earlier study. The diversity of these catchments will help to improve our understanding and modeling of how the interplay between catchment attributes shapes hydrological processes. CAMELS data set: catchment attributes and meteorology for large-sample studies">Read more
Improving calibration and validation of cosmic-ray neutron sensors in the light of spatial sensitivity Hydrology and Earth System Sciences DOI 10.5194/hess-21-5009-2017 6 October 2017 A field-scale average of near-surface water content can be sensed by cosmic-ray neutron detectors. To interpret, calibrate, and validate the integral signal, it is important to account for its sensitivity to heterogeneous patterns like dry or wet spots. We show how point samples contribute to the neutron signal based on their depth and distance from the detector. This approach robustly improves the sensor performance and data consistency, and even reveals otherwise hidden hydrological features. Read more
Complex relationship between seasonal streamflow forecast skill and value in reservoir operations Hydrology and Earth System Sciences DOI 10.5194/hess-21-4841-2017 28 September 2017 This study investigates the relationship between skill and value of ensemble seasonal streamflow forecasts. Using data from a modern forecasting system, we show that skilled forecasts are more likely to provide benefits for reservoirs operated to maintain a target water level rather than reservoirs operated to satisfy a target demand. We identify the primary causes for this behaviour and provide specific recommendations for assessing the value of forecasts for reservoirs with supply objectives. Read more
A national-scale seasonal hydrological forecast system: development and evaluation over Britain Hydrology and Earth System Sciences DOI 10.5194/hess-21-4681-2017 15 September 2017 The research presented here provides the first evaluation of the skill of a seasonal hydrological forecast for the UK. The forecast scheme combines rainfall forecasts from the Met Office GloSea5 forecast system with a national-scale hydrological model to provide estimates of river flows 1 to 3 months ahead. The skill in the combined model is assessed for different seasons and regions of Britain, and the analysis indicates that Autumn/Winter flows can be forecast with reasonable confidence. Read more
Has dyke development in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta shifted flood hazard downstream? Hydrology and Earth System Sciences DOI 10.5194/hess-21-3991-2017 7 August 2017 In this study we provide a numerical quantification of changes in flood hazard in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta as a result of dyke development. Other important drivers to the alteration of delta flood hazard are also investigated, e.g. tidal level. The findings of our study are substantial valuable for the decision makers in Vietnam to develop holistic and harmonized floods and flood-related issues management plan for the whole delta. Read more
An intercomparison of approaches for improving operational seasonal streamflow forecasts Hydrology and Earth System Sciences DOI 10.5194/hess-21-3915-2017 31 July 2017 Water supply forecasts are critical to support water resources operations and planning. The skill of such forecasts depends on our knowledge of (i) future meteorological conditions and (ii) the amount of water stored in a basin. We address this problem by testing several approaches that make use of these sources of predictability, either separately or in a combined fashion. The main goal is to understand the marginal benefits of both information and methodological complexity in forecast skill. Read more
