THE WMO PROJECT ON CATALOGING HAZARDOUS HYDROMETEOROLOGICAL EVENTS: LESSONS LEARNED BY UKRAINE

Abstract

The article deals with the results of research which was carried out by the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Institute and the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center in the framework of the WMO Project "Cataloging Hazardous Hydrometeorological Events". The cataloging methodology was elaborated by WMO experts and is based on a standardized procedure for identification and description of natural disasters caused by hazardous hydrometeorological events, beginning from a time of creation of warning of dangerous event and up to ending of estimation of damages caused by this event. A description of dangerous hydrometeorological events as well as an assessment of losses caused by these events, were recorded in the agreed EXCEL table format with standard definitions of event types. The filled tables were sent to the European Regional Climate Center (ERCC), which operates under the German Weather Service. The terms of the Project stipulate that the ERCC ensures a full methodological and technical coordination of the Project implementation, including an integration of data received from countries, their consolidation into a regional database and an integration of many events in one regional event that corresponds to their origin. The implementation of the Project first phase was completed in December 2018. During the second Project phase (January- May 2019) an analysis of results was carried out. The experience gained from the Project implementation, was used to create " the WMO methodology for cataloging hazardous weather, climate, water and space weather events" that was presented for consideration at the 18th World Meteorological Congress in June 2019. The Congress adopted the cataloging methodology and recommended to implement this methodology on an operational basis in the hydrometeorological services. The participation of the Hydrometeorological Service of Ukraine in the Project should be considered as very useful. The Ukrainian side got the opportunity: to get acquainted with an international experience in the field of standardization of description of negative influence of extreme hydrometeorological phenomena; to compare the state of affairs in this area of activity in the Hydrometeorological Service of Ukraine and in relevant services of European countries; to bring the contribution in international efforts aimed at reducing the risks of natural disasters. The obtained results showed an importance of reviewing a number of standards and other regulations which are currently used in organizations of the Hydrometeorological Service. The researches in this area is currently being carried out by the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Institute.