WMO Commission for Hydrology to Review Climate Change and Water Activities

4 November 2008: The 13th session of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Commission for Hydrology opened on 4 November 2008 at WMO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, and will conclude on 12 November. The Commission for Hydrology shapes the water-related activities of the WMO, and addresses issues related to the basic hydrological observation network, water resources assessment, flood forecasting and management, adaptabili

ty to climate variability and change, and promotes exchange of technology and capacity building. The Commission meets every four years, the twelfth session having been held at the same venue in October 2004. At its 13th session, the Commission will review ongoing activities and make decisions on issues including those related to climate change and water. In this regard, the Commission will consider its role within a WMO initiative to support adaptation to climate variability and change through strengthening the role and capacity of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services, particularly in developing and Least Developed Countries.

It will also discuss its contribution to the World Climate Conference in 2009 and to WMO activities on climate science, assessment, monitoring and early warning as a crosscutting area within the UN system. In addition to climate issues, the Commission will address the WMO Flood Forecasting Initiative and the proposed HelpDesk for flood management. [Meeting Website]