Mission
Promote cooperative international research to improve effective warning to communities from flood hazard forecasting systems by integrating precipitation and hydrologic predictions, and social sciences in a rapidly changing world.
Goals
Goal 1
Engage with the diversity of the international communities of researchers, forecasters, practitioners and other stakeholders
Goal 2
Foster collaboration between research and operations towards better services, within national meteorological and hydrological services (NMHSs) and beyond
Goal 3
Bring together knowledge from different disciplines (meteorology, hydrology and the social sciences) and cultures, with particular consideration for the most vulnerable and least developed communities
Goal 4
Rethink the flood warning process, in a non-stationary system, by taking into account anthropogenic influences and changes on climate, land and water, as well as societal interactions, considerations and perception
Objectives
Bridging Communities
To co-produce new knowledge with existing communities of practice to improve dissemination, communication and behavioural response along the value chain of flood forecasting and warning for end users and the scientific community.
Bridging Scientific Disciplines
To integrate existing and emerging technologies (e.g. AI and machine learning), methods, knowledge, and approaches from different research disciplines, including meteorology, hydrology and social sciences, as well as local and Indigenous knowledge systems – to improve flood early warning chain.
Bridging Across the Natural and Human Coupled Systems
To improve the integrated forecast of precipitation, hydrology, and human systems (including managed systems for decision-making) to build knowledge about interactions between the different components of early warnings to reduce uncertainty.
Bridging Across Research and Operations
To bridge research and operations within flood forecasting and observing systems to improve:
- The verification cycle (from predictions to warning dissemination and coordination)
- The traceability of predictions and warnings
- The quantification and communication of uncertainties
- The understanding of the needs and constraints of operational centers
- The incorporation of social science knowledge into operations
Bridging Across Types of Flood Hazards
To re-envision the warning process with consideration of impacts from multi-hazard interdependencies (compound and cascading flood hazards and their uncertainties), local vulnerability, and climate change on precipitation and hydrological forecasts.
Bridging Systems for Capacity Development
To promote capacity development in flood early warning knowledge, technology and understanding in effective multi-organizational partnerships, policy and to bridge the gap between formal, and local and Indigenous knowledge systems for more inclusive and effective flood early warnings.
DISCLAIMER:
The Weather Program Office (WPO) serves as the International Coordination Office for the Integrated Prediction of Precipitation and Hydrology for Early Actions (InPRHA) effort. As part of this initiative, WPO is vetting and sharing hydrology information from laboratories around the world. While we aim to provide accurate, timely, and reliable data, we do not guarantee the completeness, accuracy, or currency of the information presented. The information shared on this site is intended for informational purposes only, and users should verify any data through the relevant authoritative sources or official channels. The views and opinions expressed here may not necessarily reflect those of WPO or its affiliated organizations.