Pre-Operational Application of a WRF-Hydro-Based Fluvial Flood Forecasting System in the Southeast Mediterranean

Christos Giannaros, Elissavet Galanaki, Vassiliki Kotroni, Konstantinos Lagouvardos, Christina Oikonomou, Haris Haralambous and Theodore M. Giannaros
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Christos Giannaros: Frederick Research Center, Pallouriotissa, Nicosia 1036, Cyprus
Elissavet Galanaki: National Observatory of Athens, Institute for Environmental Research and Sustainable Development, Palea Penteli, 15236 Athens, Greece
Vassiliki Kotroni: National Observatory of Athens, Institute for Environmental Research and Sustainable Development, Palea Penteli, 15236 Athens, Greece
Konstantinos Lagouvardos: National Observatory of Athens, Institute for Environmental Research and Sustainable Development, Palea Penteli, 15236 Athens, Greece
Christina Oikonomou: Frederick Research Center, Pallouriotissa, Nicosia 1036, Cyprus
Haris Haralambous: Frederick Research Center, Pallouriotissa, Nicosia 1036, Cyprus
Theodore M. Giannaros: National Observatory of Athens, Institute for Environmental Research and Sustainable Development, Palea Penteli, 15236 Athens, Greece

Forecasting, 2021, vol. 3, issue 2, 1-10

Abstract: The Southeast Mediterranean (SEM) is characterized by increased vulnerability to river/stream flooding. However, impact-oriented, operational fluvial flood forecasting is far away from maturity in the region. The current paper presents the first attempt at introducing an operational impact-based warning system in the area, which is founded on the coupling of a state-of-the-art numerical weather prediction model with an advanced spatially-explicit hydrological model. The system’s modeling methodology and forecasting scheme are presented, as well as prototype results, which were derived under a pre-operational mode. Future developments and challenges needed to be addressed in terms of validating the system and increasing its efficiency are also discussed. This communication highlights that standard approaches used in operational weather forecasting in the SEM for providing flood-related information and alerts can, and should, be replaced by advanced coupled hydrometeorological systems, which can be implemented without a significant cost on the operational character of the provided services. This is of great importance in establishing effective early warning services for fluvial flooding in the region.

Keywords: flood; forecasting; hydrometeorology; WRF-Hydro; impact-based; warnings; Cyprus; Greece; Mediterranean (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A1 B4 C0 C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C8 M0 Q2 Q3 Q4 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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