Review and Prospects of Hydrological Component Development of ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee

Abstract

ABSTRACT Hydrological Component has been one of three essential parts of ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee. The Working Group on Hydrology (WGH) established at TC 33rd Session in 2000 is the first working group among three basic components of the Committee, which has been repeatedly recognized as the most active component in the Committee who has integrated conducted successfully a number of cooperation projects and integrated actions among Members. In the past decade, WGH has implemented wide range activities under the framework of Strategic Plan of the Committee. The achievement of those cooperation projects played very important roles in promoting the capacity building on hydrological monitoring, forecasting and early warning among Members. This paper introduced the Term of Reference for WGH and its high priorities, and summarized the activities conducted in recent decade. The paper also reviewed the progresses in TC Members on hydrological observation and monitoring network, hydrological data collection and transmission, hydrological information and forecasting, and establishment of flood forecasting system. The paper also pointed out the development direction and the area to be enhanced for hydrological component in future, including: (1) application of QPE/QPF in flood forecasting and establishment of the coupled hydro-meteorological modeling; (2) development of impact-based, risk-based and community-based flood forecasting and warning system, including storm surge, urban flood, sediment disaster (flash flood, landslide and mudflow); and (3) application of internet of things (IOT), big data, cloud computing, and mobile internet in flood monitoring, forecasting and early warning, and better response, particularly in flood inundation mapping and QPE/QPF products application.