Application of Climate Information and Predictions in Water Sector: Capabilities

Climate variability and climate change have a large impact on water resources since fundamental drivers of the hydrological cycle get affected. It is beneficial to understand the processes driving these changes, the sequences of the changes and their manifestation at different spatial and temporal scales. The purpose of this paper is to explore strategies to improve water management by tracking, anticipating and responding to seasonal to interannual climate variability and climate change. Sound water management is built upon long-term hydrological and meteorological monitoring networks that provide robust, accurate, timely and consistent data that can be used to develop and access tools needed to quantify uncertainty, forecast change and create the multi-phase, multi-level climate scenarios providing reasonable and relevant management of water resources. Several water management options might be considered in consultation with hydro-climatic and social scientists and stakeholders (decision-makers) to facilitate adaptation under climate variability and/or climate change and these are illustrated with suitable examples.