Satellite-based precipitation estimates (SPE) are becoming valuable sources of rainfall data for hydrologic and climatic studies, especially where ground-based gauge measurements are sparse. They are, however, subject to considerable uncertainty due to their indirect measurement techniques. Effective merging of SPE and ground-based gauge measurements may help to improve precipitation estimation in terms of both resolution and accuracy. In a recent case study in Chile, a framework for merging satellite and gauge data was developed to produce high-quality precipitation estimates.

UNESCO has just published a new strategic plan for G-WADI, titled G-WADI: The Way Forward. The lead author is Dr. Wouter Buytaert of Imperial College, London. This paper gives a condensed overview of the achievements of G-WADI including the developments of tools and platforms to assist water managers during hydrologic extremes, as well as capacity-building efforts undertaken to date. It also notes G-WADI’s strengths as a global network supporting the science-policy interface, and catalyzing high-level research to address water management issues with direct relevance at the local level of management, planning, and policy.

The General Secretariat of the Arab Network for the Management of Water Resources in the Arid and Semi-Arid Regions of the Sultanate of Oman, in coordination and cooperation with the UNESCO Cairo Office, held the third general meeting of the Arab Network in Muscat, Sultanate of Oman from 17-19 September 2017. The meeting participants discussed the performance of the network since the last meeting, support for the Network, strengthening the links among the members, and cooperation and coordination with other international and regional networks.

Developed by Princeton University’s Terrestrial Hydrology Group in collaboration with UNESCO IHP, G-WADI secretariats and members, regional centers, the African Flood and Drought Monitor (AFDM) monitors and forecasts meteorological, agricultural and hydrological drought at various temporal and spatial scales. It also has a multi-decadal, historical reconstruction of the terrestrial water cycle against which current conditions can be compared.

Water-related software from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Hydrologic Engineering Center (HEC) is very popular internationally because it is high quality, is well documented, comes with training, is supported, and is freely downloadable. HEC’s hydrologic modeling system (HEC-HMS) is no exception. However, one limitation has been that it has not been possible to utilize the gridded precipitation option for areas outside of the United States due to limitations in how gridded data was stored in the model.

Africa is “ground zero” for vulnerability to climate variability and change because of its overall low level of adaptive capacity. Any increases in frequency and severity of climate related events such as floods, drought, heat waves, etc. would only increase the risk of disasters. However, climate relevant information in Africa is, in general, very scattered and with low resolution, and characterized by significant uncertainties. Further, the capacity of relevant stakeholders to collect, process and deliver appropriate climate related information is, overall, limited.

A seminar on Rainwater Harvesting Techniques: A Tool to Deal with Water Scarcity, was held at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) building, 9-10 March 2017, Santiago Chile. It was organized by UNESCO-IHP’s Global Network on Water and Development Information for Arid Lands (G-WADI) and the UNESCO-affiliated center CAZALAC (La Serena, Chile), and was hosted by FAO.

In the wake of heavy flooding in Southern Thailand in early January, water scientists and policy-makers from ASEAN member states gathered in Bangkok to promote capacity building in using satellite-based rainfall estimation products to plan for and manage water-related natural disasters as well as to strengthen research collaboration through the ASEAN academic network.

UNESCO G-WADI partners Princeton University (USA) and Southampton University (UK) led a workshop on Drought Monitoring for Southern African Countries on November 9-11, 2016. The technology exchange was aimed at helping countries to strengthen their capacity in water-related disaster risk reduction. 

The University of California, Irvine's Center for Hydrometeorology and Remote Sensing, which has a long collaborative relationship with G-WADI, has released a new mobile app “iRain”, combining real-time rainfall information, citizen science and social media.